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{{ArticleIcons|ssbm=y}}{{disambig2|Luigi's appearance in ''Super Smash Bros. Melee|the character in other contexts|Luigi}}
{{ArticleIcons|melee=y}}
{{disambig2|Luigi's appearance in ''Super Smash Bros. Melee''|the character in other contexts|Luigi}}
{{Infobox Character
{{Infobox Character
|name         = Luigi
|name = Luigi
|image       = [[File:Luigimelee.jpg|Luigi]]
|image = [[File:Luigi SSBM.jpg]]
|game         = Melee
|symbol = preBrawl
|ssbgame1     = SSB
|game = SSBM
|ssbgame2     = SSBB
|ssbgame1 = SSB
|ssbgame2 = SSBB
|ssbgame3 = SSB4
|ssbgame4 = SSBU
|availability = [[Unlockable character|Unlockable]]
|availability = [[Unlockable character|Unlockable]]
|tier         = D
|tier = B-
|ranking     = 14
|tierPAL = E
|ranking = 12
|rankingPAL = 13
}}
}}
'''Luigi''' (Japanese: {{ja|ルイージ}}, ''Ruīji'') is an [[unlockable character]] in ''[[Super Smash Bros. Melee]]''. Luigi's moveset is markedly similar to that of [[Mario (SSBM)|Mario]], though his attacks often differ in [[knockback]] and trajectory.
'''Luigi''' ({{ja|ルイージ|Ruīji}}, ''Luigi'') is an [[unlockable character]] in ''[[Super Smash Bros. Melee]]''. Luigi is markedly similar to {{SSBM|Mario}}, though his moveset and attributes (such as traction and aerial mobility) are different in many ways, making him a [[clone|semi-clone]].  


Luigi ranks at 14th on the tier list, in the D tier, placing him in the dead centre, along with his older brother, {{SSBM|Mario}}. Luigi is notable for having possibly one of the best air games in all of ''Melee'', with very fast, very powerful and very low lag aerials and very high raw jumping power. With a projectile in tow and a very long wavedash due to his poor traction, Luigi also has some very good approach options; Luigi's wavedash alone is the longest in the game, easily taking him half the distance of Final Destination and traversing the area in a speed only slightly slower than Captain Falcon's dash. Luigi also has some very efficient killers, including a fast and powerful forward smash and a decently powered sex kick for his neutral air. Luigi's traction, however, acts as a double-edged sword; while it gives him an excellent wavedash, it also limits some of his approaches on the ground if he's not wavedashing. Additionally, Luigi's recovery is short and predictable, with very few options available to him.
As in ''[[Super Smash Bros.]]'', {{iw|mariowiki|Charles Martinet}} portrayal of Mario from ''{{iw|mariowiki|Super Mario 64}}'' were re-purposed for Luigi's appearance in ''Melee'', and are once again altered in pitch (like his [[Luigi Cyclone]] clip). ''Melee'' would be the final game to take this approach with Luigi's voice after having done so in ''Smash 64''.


==Unlocking Luigi==
Luigi currently ranks 12th on the tier list, in the B- tier, placing him three places above his older brother Mario. This is a drastic improvement from his last place ranking in ''Super Smash Bros.'' Luigi is notable for his excellent air game, with the second highest [[jump]] in ''Melee'', only behind {{SSBM|Falco}}, and some of the best aerials in all of ''Melee''; they are very fast, very powerful and have very low [[ending lag|ending]] and [[landing lag]]. Luigi's wavedash is the longest in the game, taking him nearly half the distance of [[Final Destination]] at a high speed (only slightly slower than {{SSBM|Captain Falcon}}'s dash). Luigi also has a wide array of efficient combo and KO moves both in the air and on the ground, and much like his brother, he has fast frame data. Luigi's traction, which is the lowest in the game, works as a double edged sword; while it gives him an excellent wavedash, it also limits some of his approaches on the ground if he's not wavedashing, as well as his out of shield options (as he often gets pushed too far away for fast follow-ups when his shield is hit). His approach options are generally poor; he struggles to approach on the ground despite his excellent movement due to having one of the slowest dashing speeds, short range and lacking  disjointed hitboxes, while his aerial approaches are hampered by his high short hop and slow falling speed (giving him one of the worst [[SHFFL]]s in the game) and his extremely poor aerial mobility (the worst in the game), while his floaty physics makes him vulnerable to juggles and vertical finishers. This problem is compounded with his difficulty in forcing opponents to approach (mainly as a result of his very poor projectile, as Fireball is too slow to stop approaches effectively). Additionally, his recovery is easy to edgeguard, being very linear and slow despite covering a large distance.
To unlock Luigi, the player must clear the first level of [[Adventure Mode]] with a '''2''' in the "seconds" digit of the clock. (Example: XX:X2<sup>XX</sup>). After this requirement is met, Luigi will replace Mario in the accompanying cut-scene and battle. The player must then defeat Luigi within one minute. After Adventure Mode is completed, the player will face a [[CPU]] Luigi challenger and must defeat him to unlock Luigi. Alternately, playing 800 versus matches will also unlock Luigi.
 
Nevertheless, Luigi’s good combo game and terrific wavedash allow him to be considered a decent character in competitive play, with solid matchups all-around with above average results.
 
==How to unlock==
Luigi must be defeated in battle before he can be unlocked. There are two ways the player can encounter Luigi:
*One way is to clear the first level of [[Adventure Mode]] with a two as the second digit of the seconds portion of the clock. (XX:X2<sup>XX</sup>). After this is done, a cinematic plays when the player finishes the level, showing Luigi replacing Mario in the level to battle alongside {{SSBM|Peach}}. The player must then defeat the two within one minute. After Adventure Mode is completed, the player will face off against Luigi. If the player fails to defeat Luigi, they can re-fight him by doing this same method again. If this method is used and {{SSBM|Young Link}}'s unique encounter requirement is met, then he must be unlocked before Luigi can be fought.
*Another way is to play 800 VS. matches to completion. If the player fails to defeat Luigi, they can re-fight him by playing another VS. match to completion. If this method is used, fighters with lower VS. match quotas must be unlocked before Luigi can be fought.
When fought against, Luigi appears in [[Mushroom Kingdom II]].


==Attributes==
==Attributes==
Luigi can be awkward to play as. This is because his movement is best on the ground (due to having the longest wavedash in the game), but his attacks are best in midair (due to them being fast and powerful, which allows for high damage combos). Luigi's recovery is normally long, but also slow and predictable (due to Luigi having slow aerial and falling speeds). However, there is a 12.5% chance of the Green Missile misfiring. This can be good in some cases as it can increase Luigi's recovery distance and speed, but can also lead to a [[self-destruct]]. Luigi's high vertical jumping compliments vertical-trajectory ground attacks, but his slow falling speed slows his aerial game. However, one should note that slow falling does have advantages (like making combos less effective against him). Luigi's [[approach]] is exceedingly poor outside of wavedashing (a combination of having low traction, slow initial dash speed, no disjointed hitboxes, slow falling speed, and a rather poor projectile in general), which forces an over-reliance on that for approaching. Luigi's [[back throw]] has very good knockback and can be accompanied by [[Edge-hogging]] on most stages for a quick [[Gimp kill]], although Mario and [[Dr. Mario (SSBM)|Dr. Mario]]'s back throw are stronger.
While Luigi may initially appear to be a clone of his older brother Mario, similar to {{SSBM|Dr. Mario}}, Luigi is a [[clone|semi-clone]] of Mario who exchanges mobility for extra power, despite the inverse being true in the ''Mario'' games. Many significant differences are present between their ground, aerial, and special attacks, and Luigi possesses several unique moves. Luigi's attributes can also wildly vary from Mario's; Luigi's air speed, dashing speed, and traction are among the lowest in the game, whereas Mario's are about average. Luigi's jumps are also much higher than Mario's. Luigi has the longest wavedash in the game as a result of his low traction.
===Normal moves===
 
====[[Ground attack]]s====
Luigi's primary advantage in this regard is his impressive KO potential in his grounded moveset. Luigi's wavedash functions as his primary method of approaching and movement on the ground, allowing him to traverse large distances very quickly and with a great deal of maneuverability. Luigi can combine his excellent wavedash with a variety of powerful smash attacks to produce some of the best [[Wavedash#Wavesmashing|wavesmashes]] in the game. His down smash is highly versatile, acting as combo starter due to its completely vertical knockback, as a juggling move, or as a KO move at high percentages. His forward smash has extremely high knockback scaling (135; the highest in the game), making it a powerful KO move (if a risky one due to its high ending lag). His up smash has intangibility on his head and is effective at KOing on the upper blast line and on floaty opponents, in addition to outprioritizing attacks from above Luigi. Luigi's up special can act as a powerful vertical finisher if sweetspotted, though it leaves Luigi in a helpless state and is very laggy; it is very punishable if the sweetspot is missed or the opponent avoids the attack (such as by shielding it). As a result, its use is often restricted to punishing very laggy moves (such as {{SSBM|Sheik}}'s [[Vanish]]) unless it can be [[Ledge-canceling|edge cancelled]].
=====Normal=====
 
*[[Neutral attack]] - Luigi's neutral attack combo is a three-hit attack consisting of two jabs followed by a hip bump. Useful as a low-damage opener. Because the third strike of the combo knocks the opponent away with a medium amount of lag, many players elect to omit the third strike of the combo. Luigi can repeat the first strike of the neutral attack by [[L-canceling]]. The attack consists of two jabs, both doing 1-3% damage, and the last hit does 2-5%.
Despite having the lowest air speed in the game, all of Luigi's aerial attacks are extremely solid. His forward aerial has quick startup and high knockback (at the [[Sakurai angle]]; 45° against aerial opponents), making it a useful attack for both KOing and edgeguarding. Down aerial boasts excellent utility with both its sweetspot and sourspot hitboxes; the sweetspot (near Luigi's hips), while difficult to land, is a meteor smash with solid power, making it great for edgeguarding offstage and starting combos onstage. The sourspot launches at the same angle as forward aerial with only slightly less power, making the attack a great choice for edgeguarding for any case. His back aerial has good range and works well for setting up edgeguards, while his up aerial is useful for hitting opponents above him and has low knockback which allows it to combo effectively into more aerials (such as a down or neutral aerial) on floaty opponents, and also works as a somewhat situational edgeguarding tool. Above all, however, is his neutral aerial, which is one of the most versatile attacks in the game. It is a standard [[sex kick]] that comes out on frame 3; however, it is the only sex kick that launches opponents vertically, along with disproportionately high hitstun. This makes it an incredible combo starter and even a situational KO option near the upper blast line, and thanks to its incredible speed, it is possibly the most notorious combo breaker in the game, as Luigi is able to use it to break opposing combos and start one of his own instantaneously.
*[[Dash attack]] - 10% damage (if all hits connect). Luigi dashes forward and attacks his opponent with a flurry of punches. It hits five times and does moderate damage, but it's not very useful since the last hit leaves Luigi vulnerable for a [[grab]] or smash attack.
 
*[[Forward tilt]] - 5-10% damage. Luigi's forward tilt is a sideways kick with medium [[knockback]]. It is often used simply to push the opponent away, giving Luigi extra time to maneuver, though hard to follow up with an attack. Can be angled.
Luigi's grab game is also good. Although his grab range is merely average, it is still much longer than Mario's and his aforementioned long wavedash allows Luigi to extend its reach. His throws have many varied uses. Both his down throw and up throw function as combo starters, leading into juggles with moves like up tilt, neutral air, and down smash; fast fallers such as {{SSBM|Fox}} and {{SSBM|Falco}} are generally more susceptible to up throw, while down throw is more suitable for floaty characters like Marth. Up throw is also a viable chain grab on fast-fallers at low percentages. His forward throw and back throws can set up a variety of edgeguards, with his back throw having sufficiently high knockback to function as a kill move at high percentages.
*[[Up tilt]] - Luigi's up tilt is a swipe that arcs over Luigi's head. Its upward trajectory makes up tilt well suited for [[combo]]ing, especially against [[fast-faller]]s. Hits at an upwards angle in the front and back of him. 4-9% damage.
 
*[[Down tilt]] - Kneels down and kicks. = 4-9% damage. Luigi crouches down and kicks low to the ground. It is a low-knockback attack and is laggy. Since this attack hugs the ground, it can be used to attack a [[sweet spot (ledge)|sweet spot]]ting enemy.
Luigi's strange variety of attributes, however, acts as a double-edged sword. Despite a highly effective wavedash, Luigi's movement without wavedashing is poor; while his [[moonwalk]] is decent, his dash is slow and his short initial dash animation gives him a very short dash-dance. Additionally, Luigi's projectile, [[Fireball]]s are poor; they have low hitstun, travel slowly, and have high ending lag, making them some of the more situational projectiles in the game. In addition, Luigi's air game, despite his powerful aerials, lacks much needed synergy with his stellar ground movement due to his low air speed. Furthermore, it, along with his low falling speed, leaves him highly vulnerable to juggles, as he cannot reach the ground effectively to escape them (this is one of the major factors in his poor matchup with Marth, who is capable of both starting and maintaining juggles on Luigi very effectively). A very high short hop and a low falling speed also gives Luigi among the worst SHFFLs in the game, even with his low-lag aerials. Finally, his low falling speed is what makes him vulnerable to being KOed off the top blast line (especially by characters with powerful vertical finishers, like Fox and {{SSBM|Ganondorf}}), and being juggled in the air.
 
Outside of his approach, Luigi suffers from an exploitable recovery. Although his two primary recovery moves, [[Super Jump Punch]] and [[Green Missile]] have decent range (and Green Missile can be used repeatedly when recovering high), they are extremely linear in trajectory; Super Jump Punch does not move Luigi horizontally at all and Green Missile moves him horizontally and then causes him to fall significantly during the high ending lag. The slow and linear nature of these moves make his recovery easy to edgeguard on reaction, undermining his otherwise relatively long recovery. While Fireball can be used as a potentially potent edgeguard breaker, characters with reflectors can easily punish and gimp Luigi as a result, on top of its high ending lag. His Super Jump Punch also makes for one of the poorest [[meteor cancel]]s in the game. He can also recover using the [[Luigi Cyclone]], which gives vertical and horizontal distance, but strangely, the Cyclone needs to be "charged" before it allows Luigi to rise while using it (the move becomes "charged" when it is completed or is interrupted while Luigi is touching the ground). In comparison to [[Mario Tornado]] and [[Dr. Tornado]], it also requires intense [[button mashing]] to rise; many Luigi players must hold the controller in a different way to normal (such as balancing it on their leg) to be able to press the B button fast enough to utilize the Cyclone as an effective recovery move.
 
Overall, Luigi is a character that tends to run hot and cold. He lacks many particularly safe approaches on the ground outside of wavedashing, and his aerial approaches are very poor, which generally leaves him vulnerable to characters with good zoning ability. Additionally, Luigi is over-reliant on wavedashing; a highly effective Luigi player must have perfect control over his wavedash distance. However, if Luigi can get within range to where he can land his blows, he can quickly and efficiently take the opponents' stock with effective use of his wavesmashes and versatile aerials. While he requires a large amount of technical skill and relies on situational attacks more than most characters, mastering Luigi's moveset rewards players with unpredictability and very strong offensive potential that can't be taken lightly by opponents.
 
==Changes from ''[[Super Smash Bros.]]''==
 
Unlike in ''Smash 64'' where Luigi was a clone of {{SSBM|Mario}}, his moveset has received an overhaul from ''Melee'', while the moves he shares with Mario now have different properties. Overall, this makes Luigi a semi-clone instead of a full clone.
 
Given that Luigi was considered to be the worst character in ''Smash 64'' being ranked at the lowest position on the latest tier list at 12th, Luigi was significantly [[buff]]ed from his transition from ''Smash 64'' to ''Melee''. Luigi greatly benefits from ''Melee''{{'}}s new mechanics most notably [[wavedashing]]. Wavedashing immensely improves Luigi's otherwise poor grounded mobility and it now gives his low traction an advantage rather than it only being a huge detriment. Luigi also benefits from the inclusion of up and down throws as it gives him a powerful chaingrabbing game. A wide variety of his moves have also seen improvements to their speed and some moves such as down smash and neutral aerial have gained combo potential.
 
However, Luigi has also seen some significant [[nerf]]s. Despite gaining some new KO options, many of Luigi's attacks have reduced KO potential including his up smash, back throw and [[Luigi Cyclone]] (which is also slower). His recovery is also worse. While his new side special [[Green Missile]] grants him an extra recovery option, it is very slow and predictable; thus it can easily be challenged most of the time. Luigi Cyclone grants less height and it now needs to be charged on the ground before it can be used in the air for recovery purposes, while [[Super Jump Punch]] covers much less distance particularly horizontally. In addition, Super Jump Punch is both slower and much weaker - especially the aerial version - making it a lot more difficult to combo into. Despite gaining new combo options, he has also lost one of his most valuable combo options in the form of his up aerial, which now has increased startup lag plus a worse [[auto-cancel]] window. It no longer sends opponents vertically, significantly hindering its combo and juggling potential (no longer leading into Super Jump Punch) - although it now has less ending lag and higher edgeguarding potential.
 
Overall, while Luigi's direct changes do not significantly buff him, the changes to the game's mechanics (mainly the inclusion of wavedashing) have immensely helped him pushing him into the mid tiers. It also helps that his damage output and [[auto-cancel]] ability are greater relative to the cast, making him shine in those areas more than he did in ''Smash 64''.
 
===Aesthetics===
*{{change|The graphical upgrades of the Nintendo GameCube give Luigi a more proportionate build. His appearance more closely resembles official N64-era renders of him from games such as ''{{iw|mariowiki|Mario Kart 64}}'' and ''{{iw|mariowiki|Mario Party}}''. His overalls are now a navy blue color (more like Mario's) instead of purple from the previous game and the seams are slightly more accentuated. His green clothes are a darker shade. He has a rounder head and a slightly darker skin tone.}}
*{{change|Idle animation has somewhat altered via his arms waving around a bit.}}
*{{change|Luigi has two new [[victory pose]]s: the first one has Luigi planks twice when falling, and the second one has Luigi make the gun with his hand and pretend to shoot. They replace two of his victory poses from ''Smash 64''.}}
 
===Attributes===
*{{buff|Luigi [[walk]]s significantly faster (0.8 (24) → 1.1).}}
*{{nerf|Luigi's [[initial dash]] is much slower (1.667 (50) → 1.34) and covers less distance.}}
*{{Buff|Luigi [[run]]s very slightly faster (1.33 (40) → 1.34), no longer having the slowest dash in the game alongside Ness.}}
*{{buff|Luigi's [[traction]] is slightly higher (0.0233 (0.7) → 0.025), though it still remains the lowest in the game by a large margin.}}
*{{nerf|Luigi's [[jumpsquat]] is longer (3 frames → 4).}}
*{{nerf|Luigi's already slow [[air speed]] has been decreased even more (0.867 (26, JPN) / 0.75 (22.5, NA/AUS/EUR) → 0.68).}}
*{{nerf|Luigi's [[air acceleration]] is lower (0.0667 (2) → 0.04), although no longer being the slowest. It is slightly lower than Mario's.}}
*{{nerf|Luigi [[jump]]s drastically lower (57.267 (1718) → 46.546), hindering his vertical recovery and ability to chase opponents above him. While still the 2nd highest out of 26 characters, he jumps slightly lower than {{SSB|Jigglypuff}} in ''Smash 64''.}}
**{{buff|Luigi's [[short hop]] is also extremely lower (31.6167 (1038.5) → 14.91). This improves his aerial approach potential while Luigi retains his ability to [[auto-cancel]] all of his aerials as well as being able to perform multiple aerials in a short hop.}}
*{{change|Luigi [[falling speed|falls]] faster (1.4 (42) → 1.6), improving his vertical endurance but making him easier to combo.}}
**{{nerf|However, Luigi's [[fast fall]]ing speed is slower (2.25 (67.5) → 2). The difference between his falling speed and fast falling speed is much lower (increase: 60.7% → 25%), which makes it more predictable when landing and gives him fewer options in the air.}}
*{{buff|The addition of [[air dodging]] has dramatically benefitted Luigi as he can now [[wavedash]]. Luigi possesses the longest wavedash in the game due to his extremely low [[traction]] making him benefit from wavedashing more than almost any other returning veteran. Wavedashing has greatly aided Luigi's mobility as it gives him an excellent [[approach]] option; offsetting his otherwise poor approach.}}
 
===Ground attacks===
*[[Neutral attack]]:
**{{buff|Neutral attack deals more damage (2% → 3% (hit 1)/4% → 5% (hit 3)).}}
**{{buff|The first two hits knockback (8 (base), 50 (scaling) → 20 (set)/100) and angles (361° (hit 1)/70° (hit 2) → 83°/85° (both)) have been altered, allowing them to connect more reliably into the third hit.}}
**{{buff|All three hits have less ending lag (FAF 18 → 15 (hit 1)/FAF 20 → 19 (hit 2), FAF 26 → 23 (hit 3)).}}
**{{nerf|Luigi can no longer cancel the first hit into a grab.}}
**{{nerf|The second hit has a shorter duration (frames 3-5 → 3-4).}}
**{{buff|The third hit has a new animation with Luigi bumping forward with his rear end, slightly increasing its range.}}
**{{nerf|The third hit has more startup lag with a shorter duration (frames 3-8 → 5-6).}}
*[[Forward tilt]]:
**{{buff|Forward tilt has less startup (frame 8 → 4) and ending lag (FAF 43 → 32).}}
**{{nerf|Forward tilt has decreased base knockback (10 → 2).}}
**{{nerf|Down angled forward tilt now deals very weak set knockback (10 (base), 0 (set), 100 (scaling) → 2/1/100), now making it extremely punishable on hit regardless of the opponent's percent.}}
*[[Up tilt]]:
**{{buff|Luigi has a new up tilt: an overhead "cat paw" swipe with his fist. It has less startup (frame 5 → 4) and ending lag (FAF 42 → 30) compared to the previous up tilt.}}
**{{buff|Up tilt has more horizontal range.}}
**{{buff|Up tilt now launches opponents towards Luigi (80° → 100°).}}
**{{change|Up tilt has altered knockback (0 (base), 150 (scaling) → 30/(127/125/123).}}
***{{buff|This makes the move much safer on hit at lower percents and improves its juggling potential when combined with its lower ending lag.}}
***{{nerf|However, this also hinders its KO potential when combined with its lower damage.}}
**{{nerf|Up tilt deals less damage (10% → 9%).}}
**{{nerf|Up tilt has a shorter duration (frames 5-16 → 4-12).}}
*[[Down tilt]]:
**{{buff|Luigi has a new down tilt: a low swinging crouch back-kick with Luigi's following/right leg which deals more damage (7% → 9%) compared to the previous down tilt.}}
**{{nerf|Down tilt has more startup lag and a shorter duration (frames 3-6 → 5-7).}}
**{{nerf|Down tilt has more ending lag (FAF 18 → 35) significantly hindering its use as a spacing tool.}}
**{{nerf|Down tilt has less range.}}
**{{nerf|Down tilt deals less knockback (0 (base), 100 (scaling) → 10/80).}}
**{{nerf|Down tilt now launches opponents vertically (361° → 80°) further hindering its spacing potential while not granting it combo potential due to its low knockback and high ending lag.}}
*[[Dash attack]]:
**{{buff|Dash attack has less ending lag (FAF 61 → 59).}}
**{{change|Dash attack's hits have altered knockback (0 (base), 40 (set), 100 (scaling) → 2/0/100).}}
***{{buff|This makes it connect more reliably at lower percents.}}
***{{nerf|However, this makes it connect less reliably at higher percents.}}
**{{nerf|Dash attack has more startup lag (frame 3 → 4).}}
**{{nerf|Dash attack's hits have shorter durations (4 frames (hits 1-2)/7 frames (hits 3-6) → 1 frame (all)).}}
**{{nerf|Dash attack deals slightly less damage due to changes to [[stale move negation]] (12% → 11.1%).}}
*[[Forward smash]]:
**{{buff|Luigi has a new forward smash: a knifehand. It has less startup lag (frame 16 → 12) compared to the previous forward smash.}}
***{{nerf|However, its total duration remains unchanged; increasing its ending lag.}}
**{{buff|Forward smash deals much more knockback (30 (base), 100 (scaling) → 20/135), making it much stronger despite its lower damage and no longer being the weakest in the game.}}
**{{buff|Forward smash now deals extra shield damage (0 → 5).}}
**{{nerf|Forward smash has a shorter duration (frames 16-20 → 12-14).}}
**{{nerf|Forward smash deals less damage (16%/15%/14% → 14%/13%/12%).}}
**{{nerf|Forward smash's angles have been altered (361° (all) → 65° (up)/55° (non angled)/45° (down)) which along with its lower damage, hinders the effectiveness of the non angled and up angled versions; especially against fast fallers.}}
*[[Up smash]]:
**{{buff|Up smash has a new animation; Luigi now takes a massive step forward as he leans for the headbutt. This gives it a bit more horizontal range and much less ending lag (FAF 60 → 40).}}
**{{nerf|Up smash has more startup lag with a shorter duration (frames 7-15 → 9-11). Luigi also no longer jumps, decreasing it's vertical range.}}
**{{nerf|Up smash has less intangibility (frames 7-10 → 9-11).}}
**{{nerf|Up smash deals less damage (19% → 17%) and knockback (26 (base), 120 (scaling) → 35/98) in addition to sending opponents at a less vertical angle (85° → 110°). This significantly hinders its KO potential; no longer being the strongest in the game alongside Mario's version of up smash.}}
*[[Down smash]]:
**{{buff|Down smash has less startup lag (frame 8 → 5) and a shorter total duration (FAF 45 → 38).}}
**{{change|Down smash now launches opponents vertically (361° → 90°), significantly improving its combo potential, but hindering its edgeguarding and KO potential.}}
**{{nerf|Down smash has a shorter duration (frames 8-29 → 5-6/14-15) with the front hit and back hit now having separate hitboxes rather than one long lasting hitbox.}}
***{{nerf|This also increases the move's cooldown as its total duration was not fully compensated.}}
**{{nerf|Down smash deals less knockback (20 (base), 100 (scaling) → 40/80).}}
 
===Aerial attacks===
*{{buff|All aerials except up aerial auto-cancel earlier (frame 37 → 36 (neutral), frame 27 → 20 (forward), frame 20 → 19 (back), frame 33 → 24 (down)).}}
**{{nerf|However, Luigi's aerials no longer auto-cancel the entire time their hitboxes are not active.}}
*[[Neutral aerial]]:
**{{buff|Neutral aerial's clean hit deals more damage (14% → 15%) and has higher base knockback (15 → 20).}}
**{{change|Neutral aerial now launches opponents vertically (361° → 90°).}}
***{{buff|This significantly improves its combo potential being an excellent combo starter.}}
***{{nerf|However, this also removes its edgeguarding potential.}}
**{{buff|Neutral aerial has a shorter total duration (FAF 50 → 46).}}
***{{nerf|However, it can also no longer be performed twice in a [[short hop]] due to Luigi's lower short hop.}}
**{{nerf|Neutral aerial has a shorter duration (frames 3-10 (clean)/11-36 (late) → 3-6/7-31), slightly increasing its ending lag.}}
**{{nerf|Neutral aerial has slightly increased landing lag (14 frames → 15).}}
**{{nerf|Late neutral aerial deals less damage (11% → 8%) without full compensation on its base knockback (0 → 20).}}
***{{buff|However, this improves its combo potential.}}
*[[Forward aerial]]:
**{{buff|Luigi has a new forward aerial: A karate chop. It has less startup (frame 11 → 7) and ending lag (FAF 40 → 33).}}
**{{buff|Forward aerial has increased base knockback (10 → 43), improving its spacing and edgeguarding potential.}}
***{{nerf|However, this hinders its combo potential.}}
**{{buff|Forward aerial has less landing lag (30 frames → 25).}}
**{{nerf|Forward aerial deals less damage compared to its previous clean hit (16% → 12%), making it weaker overall despite its increased base knockback.}}
**{{nerf|Forward aerial has a shorter duration due to it no longer possessing a late hit (frames 11-26 → 7-10).}}
**{{nerf|Forward aerial has less range.}}
*[[Back aerial]]:
**{{buff|Back aerial has less startup lag with a longer duration (frames 10-13 (clean)/14-19 (late) → 6-17).}}
**{{change|Back aerial has a new animation, where Luigi kicks more sideways with his right side facing up, instead of kicking backward face-down. Luigi also recovers differently without curling up into a flip.}}
***{{buff|This new animation is shorter significantly reducing the move's ending lag (FAF 40 → 29).}}
***{{nerf|However, this also gives the move less range.}}
**{{nerf|Back aerial deals less damage compared to its previous clean hit (16% → 11%) with only a slight increases to its base knockback (10 → 12), significantly hindering its KO potential.}}
***{{buff|However, this improves the move's combo potential.}}
***{{buff|Additionally since the move no longer has a weaker late hit, it deals more damage (10% → 11%) and has higher base knockback (0 → 12) compared to the previous late hit.}}
*[[Up aerial]]:
**{{buff|[[Up aerial]] has less ending lag (FAF 40 → 30).}}
**{{buff|Up aerial deals more damage (12% (clean)/9% (late) → 13%).}}
**{{change|Up aerial launches opponents horizontally rather than vertically (80°/70° → 55°).}}
***{{buff|This grants the move edgeguarding potential.}}
***{{nerf|However, this significantly hinders its combo and juggling potential removing one of Luigi's most powerful combo tools.}}
**{{buff|Up aerial has much less landing lag (40 frames → 15).}}
**{{nerf|Up aerial has more startup lag with a shorter duration due to no longer having a late hit (frames 2-4 (clean)/5-11 (late) → 5-7).}}
**{{nerf|Up aerial auto-cancels later (frame 12 → 16), removing Luigi's ability to perform two up aerials in a short hop and still auto-cancel the up aerial.}}
**{{nerf|Up aerial has decreased knockback scaling (120 → 100) hindering its KO potential despite its higher damage.}}
*[[Down aerial]]:
**{{change|Luigi's down aerial hits only once via a single drill spinning stomp, instead of being a multi-hitting drill.}}
**{{change|Down aerial's angles have been altered (-70° → 361°/270°).}}
**{{buff|Down aerial deals much more damage (3% → 16%) and knockback (30 (set), 100 (scaling) → 20 (base), 100 (scaling)) compared to the previous individual kicks; making it a powerful KO move.}}
**{{buff|Down aerial has a shorter total duration (FAF 39 → 29).}}
**{{buff|Down aerial has less landing lag (36 frames → 18).}}
**{{nerf|Due to down aerial only consisting of one hit instead of eight:}}
***{{nerf|Its maximum damage potential is lower (24% → 16%).}}
***{{nerf|It has a much shorter duration (frames 10-11,13-14,16-17,19-20,22-23,25-26,28-29,31-32 → 10-14), increasing its ending lag.}}
***{{nerf|It can no longer be used as an effective shield pressuring tool.}}
***{{nerf|It is no longer a powerful and reliable combo tool.}}
***{{buff|However, the move is now more reliable; no longer being escapable with [[SDI]].}}
**{{nerf|The introduction of [[meteor canceling]] hinders the new sweetspot's reliability.}}
 
===Throws/other attacks===
*{{buff|Luigi has been given an [[up throw]], a [[down throw]], and a [[pummel]], along with the rest of the ''Super Smash Bros.'' veterans, providing him more options out of a grab. This significantly improves his attack options. His new up and down throw's are capable of [[chain grab]]bing opponents.}}
*[[Grab]]s:
**{{nerf|Luigi's [[Grab]]s have more startup lag (frame 6 → 7 (standing), 11 (dash)) and ending lag (FAF 16 → 31 (standing), 41 (dash)).}}
*[[Forward throw]]:
**{{nerf|Forward throw deals much less damage (16% → 8%) and knockback (70 (base), 70 (scaling) → 60/65).}}
*[[Back throw]]:
**{{nerf|Back throw deals less damage (12% → 10%) and has decreased knockback scaling (70 → 65).}}
**{{nerf|Back throw's collateral hit deals less damage (10% → 8%).}}
*[[Taunt]]:
**{{buff|Taunt has less startup (frame 48 → 46) and ending lag (FAF 79 → 71).}}
***{{nerf|However, it can no longer be interrupted with shield or grab increasing the amount of time Luigi cannot shield or grab after performing the taunt (60 frames → 70).}}
**{{buff|Taunt has slightly more range; now being able to hit the entire cast on the ground.}}
**{{buff|Taunt now deals extra shield damage (0 → 1).}}
**{{buff|Taunt has increased set knockback (60 → 100) and is now a meteor smash (361° → 280°), increasing its utility.}}
**{{nerf|Taunt has a shorter duration (frames 48-50 → 46).}}
 
===Special moves===
*[[Fireball]]:
**{{buff|Fireball travels faster.}}
**{{nerf|Fireball has a smaller hitbox.}}
**{{nerf|Fireball has slightly increased startup (frame 16 → 17) and ending lag (FAF 46 → 47).}}
**{{nerf|Fireball has a shorter duration (frames 16-94 → 17-66).}}
**{{nerf|Fireball has decreased base knockback (10 → 5).}}
*[[Green Missile]]:
**{{change|Luigi has a [[side special]]: Green Missile. Luigi travels sideways like a rocket which he can charge to increase its strength/distance. It also has a 1/8 chance to misfire which will set Luigi on fire and immediately make him travel a great distance with strong damage/knockback regardless of charge. It gives him an additional [[recovery]] option. It also slightly aids to his KO ability, being another KO option with a misfire, albeit not very reliable and a misfire travels so far that it can lead into a self destruct.}}
*[[Super Jump Punch]]:
**{{buff|Super Jump Punch has increased intangibility (frame 2 → 5-8).}}
***{{nerf|However, its intangibility has increased startup lag (frame 2 → 5).}}
**{{change|The late hit has an altered angle (361° → 80°) as well as altered knockback (10 (set), 100 (scaling) → 1 (base)/1).}}
**{{change|The aerial sweetspot no longer makes the [[ping]] sound effect when it connects.}}
**{{nerf|Super Jump Punch has more startup lag with a shorter duration (frames 2-24 → 5-23).}}
**{{nerf|Super Jump Punch has a new animation where Luigi jumps straight up. This new animation covers less vertical distance and covers no horizontal distance whatsoever meaning that Luigi has to enter free fall before he can move horizontally.}}
**{{nerf|Super Jump Punch can no longer be angled.}}
**{{nerf|Super Jump Punch has more landing lag (25 frames → 40).}}
**{{nerf|The changes to up aerial and the introduction of DI have made Super Jump Punch much harder to combo into.}}
**{{nerf|The sweetspot no longer has a hitbox which covers Luigi's body.}}
**{{nerf|The grounded sweetspot deals less knockback (90 (base), 80 (scaling) → 70/73).}}
**{{nerf|The aerial sweetspot deals less damage (25% → 20%) and knockback (80 (base), 80 (scaling) → 58/72), significantly hindering its KO potential despite its altered angle (80° → 90°).}}
*[[Luigi Cyclone]]:
**{{buff|Luigi Cyclone has less ending lag (FAF 87 → 80).}}
**{{buff|Grounded Luigi Cyclone now allows Luigi to move along the ground to cover a great distance very quickly, improving its utility.}}
**{{buff|The first hit's hitboxes no longer disappear if Luigi lands while they are active.}}
**{{buff|The first hit now always launches opponents straight up (65°/90° → 90°).}}
**{{change|The first hit deals much less damage (15% → 8% (ground)/9% (air)) and knockback (65 (base), 90 (scaling) → 50/80).}}
***{{buff|This improves its ability to lead into the second hit.}}
***{{nerf|However, this significantly hinders its KO potential.}}
**{{buff|The second hit now launches opponents straight up (70° → 90°) which along with the move's lower ending lag, improves its combo potential.}}
**{{nerf|Luigi Cyclone has more startup lag with a shorter duration (frames 1-42 (hit 1)/43-44 (ground hit 2)/43-46 (air hit 2) → 6-29/43).}}
**{{nerf|Luigi Cyclone now requires significantly faster button inputs to make Luigi rise.}}
**{{nerf|Luigi can no longer mash to rise when using the grounded version.}}
**{{nerf|Luigi Cyclone now needs to be "charged" by being used on the ground first before it can be used in midair to rise with mashing.}}
**{{nerf|The second hit deals much less damage (18% → 12%) and knockback (80 (base), 100 (scaling) → 50/80), drastically hindering its KO potential.}}
***{{buff|However, this improves its combo potential.}}
***{{nerf|As a result of all these changes, the move is no longer a reliable KO move and combo finisher.}}
 
==Version history==
'''PAL'''
*{{change|Changed the conditions for starting a match with a charged [[Luigi Cyclone]] (see [[Luigi Cyclone#Combinations that start the game with Luigi Cyclone charged (NTSC)|here]] for conditions in the NTSC version). Luigi will now start the match with a charged Luigi Cyclone, regardless of opposing character, if playing with the lower port on [[Fountain of Dreams]], [[Pokémon Stadium]], [[Big Blue]], [[Onett]], [[Icicle Mountain]] and [[Poké Floats]].}}
 
==Moveset==
''For a gallery of Luigi's hitboxes, see [[Luigi (SSBM)/Hitboxes|here]].''
[[File:LuigiAerialAttacksSSBM.png|thumb|Luigi's aerial attacks]]
{{MovesetTable
|game=SSBM
|neutralcount=3
|neutralname=Left Jab ({{ja|左パンチ|Hidari Panchi}}, ''Left Punch'') / Right Jab ({{ja|右パンチ|Migi Panchi}}, ''Right Punch'') / Plumber's Rump ({{ja|どんけつ|Donketsu}}, ''Butt'')
|neutraldesc=A three-hit attack consisting of two jabs followed by a hip bump. Useful as a low-damage opener. Because the third strike of the combo knocks the opponent away with a medium amount of lag, many players elect to omit the third strike of the combo. Luigi can repeat the first strike of the neutral attack by [[jab cancel]]ling.
|neutral1dmg=3%
|neutral2dmg=2%
|neutral3dmg=5%
|ftiltname=Plumber Kick ({{ja|ミドルキック|Midoru Kikku}}, ''Middle Kick'')
|ftiltdmg=10%
|ftiltdesc=Does a back spinning kick with his right leg. Has medium [[knockback]]. It is often used to poke or simply to push the opponent away, giving Luigi extra time to maneuver or set up [[edgeguard]]s. It can be angled, with the downwards angled version having very low hitstun, often leaving Luigi vulnerable on hit or block.
|utiltname=Cat Punch ({{ja|ねこパンチ|Neko Panchi}})
|utiltdmg=9%
|utiltdesc=Swipes over his head with his fist. Its upward trajectory makes this move well-suited for [[juggle|juggling]], especially against [[fast-faller]]s.
|dtiltname=Heel Kick ({{ja|かかとげり|Kakato-Geri}})
|dtiltdmg=9%
|dtiltdesc=Crouches, turns around, and kicks his heel out behind him. It pops the opponent up with low-knockback and is laggy, making it of limited usefulness. Since this attack hugs the ground, it can be used to attack a [[sweet spot (ledge)|sweet spot]]ting enemy.
|dashname=Fists of Fear ({{ja|ぽこぽこパンチ|Pokopoko Panchi}}, ''Pow-Pow Punch'')
|dashdmg=2% (hits 1-6)
|dashdesc=Dashes forward and attacks his opponent with a flurry of punches. It hits six times and does moderate damage, but it's not very useful due to being extremely unsafe on hit (it has 22 frames on ending lag and very low hitstun), allowing any character to grab him out of it. All hits deal ≈11.1% when used fresh.
|fsmashname=Trowel Stab ({{ja|地獄突き|Jigoku Tskui}}, ''Hell Thrust'')
|fsmashangles=3
|fsmashupdmg={{ChargedSmashDmgSSBM|14}}
|fsmashsidedmg={{ChargedSmashDmgSSBM|13}}
|fsmashdowndmg={{ChargedSmashDmgSSBM|12}}
|fsmashdesc=Bends his elbow before thrusting his arm out, performing a spearhand thrust. Launches opponents diagonally upwards. The highest knockback scaling in the game at 135, being able to KO under 130%. Additionally, charging this move will cease Luigi momentum mid-[[wavedash]], which will make him stop suddenly. This move can be angled up or down.
|usmashname=Lead Headbutt ({{ja|スマッシュヘッドバット|Sumasshu Heddobatto}}, ''Smash Headbutt'')
|usmashdmg={{ChargedSmashDmgSSBM|17}}
|usmashdesc=Performs an upwards headbutt. Identical to Mario's up smash but has an up-and-behind trajectory, ideal for KOs off the upper [[blast line]], or KOs on floaty opponents. It can also set up aerial combos in a similar manner to his up tilt. Luigi's head is [[intangible]] while the hitboxes are active.
|dsmashname=Breakdance Sweep ({{ja|ダブルキック|Daburu Kikku}}, ''Double Kick'')
|dsmashdmg={{ChargedSmashDmgSSBM|17}}
|dsmashdesc=Kicks out twice in a breakdancing motion, first in front and then behind. The combination of the attack's upward trajectory and its [[knockback]] makes it an excellent [[combo]] starter.
|nairname=Plumber's Boot ({{ja|ルイージキック|Ruīji Kikku}}, ''Luigi Kick'')
|nairdmg=15% (clean), 8% (late)
|nairdesc=A [[sex kick]] that sends the opponent straight upwards. For this reason, Luigi's sex kick is a popular tool for juggling and comboing opponents, being able to KO at high percentages. Its hitbox and low startup time (hits on frame 3) means that it is useful for interrupting combo attempts by the opponent. One of the strongest sex kicks in the game (being the 3rd most powerful neutral aerial overall and the most powerful sex kick in ''Melee'').
|fairname=Chop Chop ({{ja|脳天チョップ|Nōten Choppu}}, ''Brain Chop'')
|fairdmg=12%
|fairdesc=Does a quick karate chop forward. High horizontal knockback and is one of Luigi's primary KO'ing aerial attacks. It also has high knockback at low damage. Launches at the [[Sakurai angle]].
|bairname=Drop Kick ({{ja|後方ドロップキック|Kōhō Doroppu Kikku}}, ''Back Drop Kick'')
|bairdmg=11%
|bairdesc=Performs a reverse dropkick. Good for damage racking, edgeguarding, and zoning (especially on floaty opponents such as {{SSBM|Jigglypuff}}). It also has high base knockback, similar to Dr. Mario's back aerial, adding to it's effectiveness.
|uairname=Bicycle Kick ({{ja|エアスラッシュ|Ea Surasshu}}, ''Air Slash'')
|uairdmg=13%
|uairdesc=Does a upwards flipkick, hitting above him. Doesn't offer the same juggling properties from the ground as Mario's; however, it is often used against opponents above Luigi on platforms, or as a vertical launcher to set up an aerial finisher like his forward aerial. It is also useful as an edgeguard.
|dairname=Screwdriver Kick ({{ja|ドリルキック|Doriru Kikku}}, ''Drill Kick'')
|dairdmg=16%
|dairdesc=Does a quick downwards spin kick. A valuable edgeguarding move. Can [[meteor smash]] if he hits the opponent with his hip (in a similar fashion to {{SSBM|Young Link}}'s down aerial meteor smash.) The lower hitbox has strong knockback at the Sakurai angle in a similar fashion to his forward aerial.
|grabname=Grab ({{ja|つかみ|Tsukami}})
|grabdesc=&nbsp;
|pummelname=Clutch Headbutt ({{ja|つかみヘッドバット|Tsukami Heddobatto}}, ''Grab Headbutt'')
|pummeldmg=3%
|pummeldesc=Headbutts opponent. Relatively slow.
|fthrowname=Heave-Ho ({{ja|ヒコーキ投げ|Hikōki Nage}}, ''Airplane Throw'')
|fthrowdmg=8%
|fthrowdesc=Spins around once and throws his opponent forward. This throw is relatively weak but can be used near the [[ledge]] to set up edgeguards.
|bthrowname=Airplane Swing ({{ja|ジャイアントスイング|Jaianto Suingu}}, ''Giant Swing'')
|bthrowdmg=10% (throw), 8% (collateral)
|bthrowdesc=Spins around three times and throws his opponent backwards. Luigi's strongest throw, often being used for throwing enemies offstage and getting KOs.
|uthrowname=Luigi Launch ({{ja|スルーアップ|Surū Appu}}, ''Throw Up'')
|uthrowdmg=7%
|uthrowdesc=Throws his opponent upward. Very useful combo starter, leading into moves such as an up tilt, a neutral aerial, and an up smash. It can also [[chain grab]] fast-fallers.
|dthrowname=Down the Drain ({{ja|スルーダウン|Surū Daun}}, ''Throw Down'')
|dthrowdmg=7%
|dthrowdesc=Throws the opponent into the ground, causing them to bounce at a horizontal angle. Allows for combos or tech chase follow ups.
|floorbname=&nbsp;
|floorbdmg=6%
|floorbdesc=Swirls around in a similar fashion to his down smash.
|floorfname=&nbsp;
|floorfdmg=6%
|floorfdesc=Gets up and punches behind him, then in front.
|edgefname=&nbsp;
|edgefdmg=6% (body), 8% (legs)
|edgefdesc=Does a somersault and then kicks upward onto the stage.
|edgesname=&nbsp;
|edgesdmg=10%
|edgesdesc=Slowly gets up and kicks forward with one leg.
|nsname=Fireball
|nsdmg=6%
|nsdesc=Shoots a fireball as a [[projectile]]. The fireball isn't affected by gravity.
|ssname=Green Missile
|ssdmg=5-26% (normal), 25% (misfire)
|ssdesc=A chargeable move that launches Luigi sideways like a rocket. There is a lot of ending lag on this move, which makes it very punishable. There is a 1-in-8 chance that Luigi will misfire, sending him much farther, much faster, and with much more knockback. Performing this move like a [[smash attack]] causes the move to finish charging sooner.
|usname=Super Jump Punch
|usdmg=25% (ground clean), 20% (air clean), 1% (late)
|usdesc=Does a jumping uppercut upwards with no horizontal distance. There is a 1-frame [[sweetspot]] right at the beginning of the move, which is very powerful. Otherwise, it deals pitiful damage and no knockback.
|dsname=Luigi Cyclone
|dsdmg=8% (ground hit 1), 9% (air hit 1), 12% (hit 2)
|dsdesc=A spinning attack that can be moved left and right. By rapidly tapping the [[B button]], it can be used to gain a little vertical distance.
|tauntname=Taunt ({{ja|挑発|Chōhatsu}})
|tauntdmg=1%
|tauntdesc=A bashful kick to the ground. The only damaging taunt in the game. [[Meteor smash]]es with set knockback, sending opponents upwards on the ground, and downwards if they are hanging on the ledge. It has very limited practical applications, being very slow and weak, as well as possible to [[meteor cancel]] due to its angle.
}}
 
===Stats===
'''NTSC'''
{{Attributes
|cast = 26
|weight = 100
|rweight = 8-10
|dash = 1.34
|rdash = 19
|run = 1.34
|rrun = 22
|walk = 1.1
|rwalk = 12-15
|trac = 0.0025
|rtrac = 26
|airfric = 0.01
|rairfric = 15-20
|air = 0.68
|rair = 26
|baseaccel = 0.015
|rbaseaccel = 24
|addaccel = 0.025
|raddaccel = 22-23
|gravity = 0.069
|rgravity = 24
|fall = 1.6
|rfall = 19-21
|ff = 2
|rff = 21-24
|jumpsquat = 4
|rjumpsquat = 8-15
|jumpheight = 46.546
|rjumpheight = 2
|shorthop = 14.91
|rshorthop = 7
|djump = 35.568
|rdjump = 4
|ellag = 4
|rellag = 2-23
}}
 
'''PAL'''
{{Attributes
|cast = 26
|weight = 100
|rweight = 8-9
 
|dash = 1.34
|rdash = 19
|run = 1.34
|rrun = 22
|walk = 1.1
|rwalk = 12-15
|trac = 0.0025
|rtrac = 26
|airfric = 0.01
|rairfric = 15-20
|air = 0.68
|rair = 26
|baseaccel = 0.015
|rbaseaccel = 24
|addaccel = 0.025
|raddaccel = 22-23
|gravity = 0.069
|rgravity = 24
|fall = 1.6
|rfall = 19-21
|ff = 2
|rff = 21-24
|jumpsquat = 4
|rjumpsquat = 8-15
|jumpheight = 46.546
|rjumpheight = 2
|shorthop = 14.91
|rshorthop = 7
|djump = 35.568
|rdjump = 4
|ellag = 4
|rellag = 2-23
}}


=====[[Smash attack|Smashes]]=====
===[[Announcer]] call===
*[[Forward smash]] - Does a quick jab for 7-19% damage. Luigi winds up and launches his hand straight into his opponent, sending them at a forward and upward trajectory. Can be angled. Sometimes used to end combos. Additionally, charging a forward smash will cease Luigi momentum mid-[[wavedash]], with can make him stop suddenly.
[[File: Luigi Announcer SSBM.wav]]
*[[Up smash]] - 9-23% damage. Identical to Mario and Dr. Mario's headbutt with an up-and-behind trajectory, ideal for setting up aerial combos with Luigi. The player can also buffer it in at the end of a [[wavedash]] which allows for an alternative vertical launcher to Luigi's common wavedash to [[down smash]] approach.
*[[Down smash]] - 9-23% damage. Luigi kicks out twice in a break dancing motion, first in front and then behind. This attack has an upward trajectory and its [[knockback]] provides for aerial [[combo]]s against low-damage enemies and [[KO]]'s against high-damage enemies.


=====Other attacks=====
===[[List of taunts (SSBM)|Taunt]]===
*[[Ledge attack]] - Gets up and somersaults. 8% damage.
{{Taunt/SSBM|char=Luigi|desc=Bashfully kicks the ground, dealing 1% damage to anyone who hits his foot. It is the only taunt in ''Melee'' that can damage the opponent. The taunt normally sends the enemy upwards with [[set knockback]], but against opponents hanging on the ledge, it will [[meteor smash]]. Since it is slow and very weak, Luigi's taunt is rarely used in [[competitive play]].}}
*100% ledge attack - Slowly gets up and thrusts his foot forward. 10% damage.
*[[Floor attack]] - Swirls around in a similar fashion to his down smash. 6% damage.


====[[Aerial attack]]s====
===[[List of idle poses (SSBM)|Idle pose]]===
*[[Neutral aerial]] - A ''[[Sex kick]]'' - 4-15% damage. Luigi's neutral aerial has the same [[knockback]] properties of most [[sex kick]]s, and sends the opponent upwards. For this reason, Luigi's sex kick is a popular tool for juggling and comboing opponents. Can KO at high percentage. One of the strongest sex kicks in the game.
{{Idle|desc=Rubs the back of his head sheepishly. The controller vibrates slightly during this animation.|image=Luigi Idle Pose Melee.gif}}
*[[Forward aerial]] - Does a quick karate chop. 6-12% damage. High horizontal knockback and is one of his primary KO'ing aerial attacks. It also has high knockback at low damage, good for wavelanding.
*[[Back aerial]] - Kicks backwards. 6-11% damage. Good for damage racking and edge guarding.
*[[Up aerial]] - Does a flip kick. 7-13% damage. Doesn't offer the same juggling properties from the ground as Mario's; however, it is often used against opponents above Luigi on platforms, or as a vertical launcher to set up an aerial finisher like the chop.
*[[Down aerial]] - Twirls his feet under him. 8-16% damage. A valuable edgeguarding alternative to the back aerial. Can [[meteor smash]] if he hits the opponent with his hip (in a similar fashion to [[Young Link (SSBM)|Young Link's]] down aerial [[spike]]). Luigi's down aerial is a meteor smash and therefore can be [[meteor cancel]]ed.


====[[Grab]]s & [[throw]]s====
===[[Crowd cheer]]===
*[[Forward throw]] - 4-7% damage. This throw is relatively weak but can be used near the [[ledge]] to set up Luigi's enemy for an [[edge-guard]].
{| class="wikitable" border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="1"
*[[Back throw]] - 5-10% damage. Luigi's strongest throw, it is used for throwing enemies off-stage and KOing.
|-
*[[Up throw]] - 4-7% damage. Luigi's up throw can [[chain grab]] [[fast-faller]]s at low [[damage]]. If a person [[DI]]'s, Luigi can follow the opponent up with a wavedash.
!{{{name|}}}
*[[Down throw]] - 3-7% damage. This throw sends the enemy upwards and slightly to the side, depending on the target's DI. Though it has low [[knockback]], it does not stun the opponent long enough to [[combo]] or chain grab.
!Cheer (International)
!Cheer (Japanese)
|-
! scope="row"|Cheer
|[[File:Luigi Cheer International SSBM.ogg|center]]||[[File:Luigi Cheer Japanese SSBM.ogg|center]]
|-
! scope="row"|Description
|Lu - i - gi! || Lui - gi!
|}


===[[Special move]]s===
===[[Victory pose]]s===
{{Special Moves|char=Luigi|game=SSBM}}
{{Victory/SSBM
|victory-theme=MushroomKingdomThemeMelee.ogg
|victory-desc=An orchestrated cover of the iconic "Level Completed" music from ''[[Super Mario Bros.]]''
|desc-1=Planks twice. The spring sound from Super Mario World can be heard after each plank.
|desc-2=Turns around and makes gun motions with his fingers, saying "Let's-a go"!
|desc-3=Childishly swings his arms at the air and gasps twice with exhaustion. This is his animation when he is chosen in ''[[Super Smash Bros.]]''
|char=Luigi}}


===Taunt===
==In [[competitive play]]==
*'''[[Taunt]]''' - 1% damage. Luigi's taunt, a casual kick against the ground, is the only taunt in Melee that can damage the opponent. The taunt normally sends the enemy upwards with [[set knockback]], but if Luigi connects with the bottom of his foot, the taunt can also serve as a [[spike]] and a [[meteor smash]]. Since it is slow and very weak, Luigi's taunt is rarely used in competitive play. This is one of the moves sometimes used just for laughs because it is very hard to hit somebody with it. Luigi professionals generally don't taunt as much when an opponent dies, preferring to use the down special move in order to charge it.
===Most historically significant players===
<!--This character has a ten player limit for this section. Before adding and/or removing a player, read these guidelines: https://www.ssbwiki.com/SmashWiki:Notability#%22Most_historically_significant_players%22_guidelines -->


==[[Matchup]]s==
:''See also: [[:Category:Luigi players (SSBM)]]''
{{SSBMMatchupTable|luigi=yes}}


==Changes from ''[[Super Smash Bros.|SSB]]'' to ''Melee''==
*{{Sm|Abate|USA}} - One of the best Luigi players of all time but is currently inactive. He previously ranked as high as 43rd on the [[SSBMRank 2015]]. He became the first Luigi player to place top 8 at a supermajor with his 7th at {{Trn|The Big House 5}}, taking sets over players such as {{Sm|Axe}} and {{Sm|S2J}}. He continued to show proficiency with Luigi after this tournament with placements such as 17th at {{Trn|Super Smash Con 2016}} and 25th at {{Trn|GENESIS 4}}.
*Overalls changed from purple to navy blue.
*{{Sm|Blea Gelo|USA}} -  Previously one of the best Luigi players in the world before his inactivity. Alongside Abate, he marked some of the best major placements with Luigi in the 2010s with his 9th at {{Trn|CEO 2014}} and 33rd at {{Trn|EVO 2017}}. He was previously ranked 90th on the [[2017 SSBMRank]].
*Super Jump Punch has no horizontal distance and doesn't get as much vertical distance, relying on his Green Missile for horizontal recovery.
*{{Sm|Eddy Mexico|Mexico}} - Currently considered the best Luigi player in the world. He has become one of the best Luigi players of all time, being one of the first two Luigi players to be ranked globally at 42nd on the [[2013 SSBMRank]] and being the highest ranked Luigi ever in these global rankings at 31st on the [[2014 SSBMRank]]. He has made regional placements such as 7th at {{Trn|Smash Factor 8}} and supermajor placements with 17th at both {{Trn|GENESIS 6}} and {{Trn|EVO 2014}}. In the post-Slippi era, he notably took a set over {{Sm|Mang0}} at {{Trn|Smash Factor X}} while placing 3rd at the event. He is ranked 54th on the [[SSBMRank 2023]].
*Forward Smash is a jab rather than a Mega Punch.
*{{Sm|Jah Ridin'|Switzerland}} - The best Luigi in Europe. At some of the largest European tournaments, he placed 7th at {{Trn|HFLAN Melee Edition 2019}} and 9th at {{Trn|Fête}} and internationally has placed 17th at {{Trn|Collision 2023}} and 25th at {{Trn|Shine 2023}}. He became the first Swiss player to be ranked top 100, being 94th on the [[SSBMRank 2023]].
*New Neutral Combo (the third hit is a butt hit instead of a kick).
*{{Sm|Ka-master|USA}} - Previously considered the best Luigi player in the world alongside Abate, being ranked 58th on the [[2018 MPGR]]. He placed 7th at {{Trn|Don't Park on the Grass 2018}} where he beat {{Sm|Fiction}} and {{Sm|Rocky}} in his bracket and placed solidly at supermajors such as 25th at {{Trn|EVO 2017}}.
*Front Aerial is now a chop rather than a spin kick.
*{{Sm|Kurv|USA}} - The former best Luigi player in SoCal before he mainly switched to Fox. Placed 33rd at {{Trn|Smash 'N' Splash 5}} and {{Trn|Mainstage}} and has used Luigi to beat top players such as {{Sm|ARMY}} and {{Sm|Fiction}}. He is currently ranked 69th on the [[SSBMRank 2023]].
*[[Luigi Cyclone]] doesn't last as long, but strikes faster.
*{{Sm|Vist|USA}} - Previously the best Luigi in MD/VA and one of the best in the world. Notably defeated Mang0 at {{Trn|Pound 3}} and placed 5th at {{Trn|Pound V.5}} and 33rd at {{Trn|Super Smash Con 2017}}. He became one of the first two Luigi players to be ranked globally with 98th on the [[2013 SSBMRank]].
*New Up tilt.
*{{Sm|Vudujin|USA}} - He discovered and popularized the [[Vududash]]. Some of his best results include 7th at {{Trn|Fight Pitt 7}}, 9th at {{Trn|Zenith 2013}}, and 25th at {{Trn|The Big House 2}}. He was formerly ranked as high as 2nd on the [[Pittsburgh Melee Power Rankings]].
*New Down aerial. (Now only does one strong hit rather than multiple weak hits).
*New Down tilt.


==In [[Adventure Mode|single-player]]==
===Tier placement and history===
Luigi can appear in the Adventure Mode if the player finishes the first stage, [[Mushroom Kingdom Adventure]], with the number "two" anywhere in the timer, a cut scene will occur which will show Luigi taking Mario's place in the upcoming battle. The player will then have to battle a team of Luigi and [[Peach (SSBM)|Peach]]. If the player has unlocked Luigi, [[Metal Luigi]] will appear on the [[Special Stages: Battlefield|Battlefield]] stage alongside [[Metal Mario]].
Luigi was once ranked quite high on the [[tier list]], hovering around positions 6 to 9 for about the first year of ''Melee''{{'}}s metagame. He then saw a large drop to 12th, which can be attributed to his low [[traction]] leading to slippery movement, predictable [[recovery]], and short [[reach]], which many players of top tier characters began adapting to and countering in their own metagames, resulting in worse matchups for Luigi; he was also seen as outclassed by both {{SSBM|Dr. Mario}} and {{SSBM|Mario}}, who either had more power or a less risky [[combo]] game, respectively. He then fell to the top of low tier for many years to come. However, with excellent performances by dedicated professionals such as {{Sm|Eddy Mexico}} and {{Sm|Abate}} showing Luigi's extremely quick mobility and approach with the [[wavedash]] and waveland, as well as his great aerial game and KO power despite his poor reach, opinions of Luigi began to change. In recent tournaments such as [[EVO 2013]] and [[The Big House 5]], Luigi players have placed relatively high with lacking similar performances by Mario, resulting in Luigi pulling ahead back into the middle tier, three spots above Mario at 12th place. Today, Luigi is still a solid mid tier character who has a relatively small, but strong, player base, and he makes decent impressions in large tournaments.


Luigi is featured in the following [[event match]]es:
==In 1-P Mode==
*'''[[Event 31: Mario Bros. Madness]]''': The player's character battles a team of Mario and Luigi in a 2-minute unlimited-[[stock]] match in the [[Mushroom: Kingdom]] stage. Whoever gets the most KOs wins, much like in a standard time-match.
==={{SSBM|Classic Mode}}===
*'''[[Event 35: Time for a Check-up]]''': The player plays as Luigi as they battle a team of Dr. Mario and Peach on the [[Yoshi's Island: Yoshi's Story]], with each character having 1 stock and the match timed for 3 minutes.
In Classic Mode, Luigi can appear as an ordinary opponent, an ally in team and giant battles, alongside {{SSBM|Dr. Mario}}, {{SSBM|Link}}, or {{SSBM|Yoshi}} in a team, a giant opponent, the sole member of a multi-character battle, or a metal character. In all appearances, he either appears on {{SSBM|Mushroom Kingdom}} or [[Mushroom Kingdom II]] with the exception of the metal battle and when on a team with Yoshi, where he will fight the player on {{SSBM|Battlefield}} or [[Yoshi's Story]], respectively.
*'''[[Event 38: Super Mario Bros. 2]]''': In this match, the player's character must battle against Mario, Luigi, and Peach in an unlimited-time 2-stock match on [[Mushroom: Kingdom II]]. The odds may seem especially stacked against the player, but the opponent team is subject to friendly fire. The character selection and stage are a direct throwback to the original ''Super Mario Bros. 2'', an NES sequel to ''Super Mario Bros.''
*'''[[Event 40: All-Star Match 4]]''': Luigi is the second opponent the player must fight in this series of staged battles. Their character battles him on the [[Mushroom Kingdom II]] stage, and their character has 2 stocks while Luigi has one. With a timer of four minutes, the player must defeat him and the other four characters with the overall time and life they have: [[Marth (SSBM)|Marth]], [[Jigglypuff (SSBM)|Jigglypuff]], [[Mewtwo (SSBM)|Mewtwo]], and [[Mr. Game and Watch (SSBM)|Mr. Game and Watch]].
*'''[[Event 42: Trouble King 2]]''': The player plays as Luigi against a giant [[Bowser (SSBM)|Bowser]] on the stage [[Kanto Skies: Poké Floats|Poké Floats]], with both players having 2 [[stock]] each.


==Trophy descriptions==
===[[Adventure Mode]]===
In addition to the normal trophy about Luigi as a character, there are two trophies about him as a fighter, unlocked by completing the Adventure and [[All-Star Mode]]s respectively with Luigi on any difficulty:
Luigi can appear in the Adventure Mode if the player finishes the first stage, [[Mushroom Kingdom (Adventure Mode)|Mushroom Kingdom]], with the number two anywhere in the seconds meter (ex. 3:4'''2''':35) , a cutscene will occur which will show Luigi taking Mario's place in the upcoming battle (unusually, it does not count if there is a two in the tens column, but not the ones column: ex. 3.25:35 will not count). The player will then have to battle a team of Luigi and {{SSBM|Peach}}. Of note is that Luigi can appear in the Adventure Mode without being unlocked; encountering him in the Adventure Mode prior to unlocking him is actually one of two criteria the player can meet to unlock him. Humorously, defeating Luigi yields the Luigi KO [[List of bonuses#Super Smash Bros. Melee|bonus]], which is the one that awards least points to the player: a measly 20 points.


:'''Luigi''' ''(Classic)''
If the player has unlocked Luigi, [[Metal Luigi]] will appear in Stage 11-2: {{SSBM|Battlefield}} stage alongside [[Metal Mario]].
:''"Although Mario's younger brother has always played second fiddle, Luigi finally garnered the spotlight with his very own game, Luigi's Mansion. Things are looking up for the eternal understudy; he's even picked up his own rival in Waluigi. The day he's referred to as the "lean, mean, green machine" may not be too far off."''


:'''Luigi''' ''(Adventure)''
===[[All-Star Mode]]===
:''Luigi has worse traction than his brother, but he's a more powerful jumper. His Fireballs aren't affected by gravity, so they fly straight horizontally. The Green Missile is similar to Pikachu's Skull Bash, but there's a 12.5% chance of a spontaneous misfire. Luigi's taunting pose inflicts minor damage.''
Luigi and his allies are fought on {{SSBM|Mushroom Kingdom}}.
:*B: [[Fireball]]
:*Smash B: [[Green Missile]]


:'''Luigi''' ''(All-Star)''
===[[Event Match]]es===
:''Smack someone with Luigi's Super Jump Punch, and if the timing is just right, it will become a Fire Jump Punch of incredible strength. However, Luigi can only jump straight up when delivering this blow, and if his aim is a bit off, he'll only do a single point of damage. The Luigi Cyclone sucks foes in and twirls them about.''
Luigi is featured in the following event matches:
:*Up & B: [[Super Jump Punch]]
*'''[[Event 31: Mario Bros. Madness]]''': The player chooses any character and must fight {{SSBM|Mario}} and Luigi in a two-timed match on {{SSBM|Mushroom Kingdom}}. The player must have the most points within the two minutes to clear this event.
:*Down & B: [[Luigi Cyclone]]
*'''[[Event 35: Time for a Checkup]]''': The player controls Luigi must defeat a team of {{SSBM|Dr. Mario}} and {{SSBM|Peach}} on [[Yoshi's Story]].
*'''[[Event 38: Super Mario Bros. 2]]''': The player chooses any character and must defeat Mario, Luigi, and Peach in a two-stock match on [[Mushroom Kingdom II]]. Both the characters and the stage are a direct throwback to the original ''Super Mario Bros. 2'', an NES sequel to ''Super Mario Bros''.
*'''[[Event 40: All-Star Match 4]]''': Luigi is the second opponent to be fought in this series of staged battles. The player battles him on Mushroom Kingdom II, which will transition to the next stage if Luigi gets defeated. With a timer of four minutes, the player must defeat him along with {{SSBM|Marth}}, {{SSBM|Jigglypuff}}, {{SSBM|Mewtwo}}, and {{SSBM|Mr. Game & Watch}}.
*'''[[Event 42: Trouble King 2]]''': The player controls Luigi and must defeat a giant {{SSBM|Bowser}} on the stage [[Poké Floats]], with both players having two stocks each.
 
===[[Congratulations_screen#Super_Smash_Bros._Melee|Congratulations Screens]]===
<center>
<center>
<gallerY widths="200">
<gallery>
File:Luigi Trophy Melee.png|Classic
LuigiClassicMode.jpg|Classic Mode
File:Luigi Trophy (Smash).png|Adventure
LuigiAdventureMode.jpg|Adventure Mode
File:Luigi Trophy (Smash 2).png|All-Star
LuigiAllStarMode.jpg|All-Star Mode
</gallery>
</gallery>
</center>
</center>


==[[Palette swap|Costume Gallery]]==
==[[Trophies]]==
[[File:alt-luigi2.jpg|frame|center|Luigi's changeable clothing in SSBM]]
In addition to the normal trophy about Luigi as a character unlocked by completing {{SSBM|Classic Mode}} as Luigi on any difficulty, there are two trophies about him as a fighter, unlocked by completing {{SSBM|Adventure Mode}} and [[All-Star Mode]] respectively as Luigi on any difficulty. Each of the trophies can also be unlocked by playing 100, 200, and 300 versus matches respectively as Luigi:
 
{{Trophy/Fighter
|name=Luigi
|image=Luigi Trophy Melee.png
|mode=Classic
|desc=Although Mario's younger brother has always played second fiddle, Luigi finally garnered the spotlight with his very own game, Luigi's Mansion. Things are looking up for the eternal understudy; he's even picked up his own rival in Waluigi. The day he's referred to as the "lean, mean, green machine" may not be too far off.
|gamelist={{Trophy games|game1=Mario Bros.|release1=Arcade 1983}}
|game=Melee
}}
{{clrl}}
 
{{Trophy/Fighter
|name=Luigi
|image=Luigi Trophy (Smash).png
|mode=Adventure
|desc=Luigi has worse traction than his brother, but he's a more powerful jumper. His Fireballs aren't affected by gravity, so they fly straight horizontally. The Green Missile is similar to Pikachu's Skull Bash, but there's a 12.5% chance of a spontaneous misfire. Luigi's taunting pose inflicts minor damage.
|gamelist=:B: Fireball
:Smash B: Green Missile
|game=Melee
}}
{{clrl}}
 
{{Trophy/Fighter
|name=Luigi
|image=Luigi Trophy (Smash 2).png
|mode=All Star
|desc=Smack someone with Luigi's Super Jump Punch, and if the timing is just right, it will become a Fire Jump Punch of incredible strength. However, Luigi can only jump straight up when delivering this blow, and if his aim is a bit off, he'll only do a single point of damage. The Luigi Cyclone sucks foes in and twirls them about.
|gamelist=:Up & B: Super Jump Punch
:Down & B: Luigi Cyclone
|game=Melee
}}
{{clrl}}
 
==[[Alternate costume (SSBM)#Luigi|Alternate costumes]]==
{|style="margin:1em auto 1em auto;text-align:center"
|-
|colspan=4|[[File:Luigi Palette (SSBM).png]]
|-
|{{Head|Luigi|g=SSBM|s=25px}}
|{{Head|Luigi|g=SSBM|s=25px|cl=White}}
|{{Head|Luigi|g=SSBM|s=25px|cl=Blue}}
|{{Head|Luigi|g=SSBM|s=25px|cl=Pink}}
|}
 
==Gallery==
<center>
<gallery>
SSBMWebsiteLuigi1.jpg|"[[Footstool jump]]ing" {{SSBM|Mario}} during {{SSBM|Adventure Mode}}.
FJPMelee.jpg|Using his {{b|sweet spot|hitbox}}ted [[Super Jump Punch]] on {{SSBM|Fox}} and {{SSBM|Samus}} on [[Great Bay]].
Fireball Melee.jpg|Using [[Fireball]] alongside Mario on [[Princess Peach's Castle]].
SSBMWebsiteLuigi4.jpg|Using his [[forward smash]] on {{SSBM|Link}}.
Luigi greenmissle.jpg|[[Misfire|Misfiring]] on [[Pokémon Stadium]].
SSBMWebsiteLuigi6.jpg|Using his [[taunt]] on {{SSBM|Captain Falcon}} on [[Mute City]].
</gallery>
</center>


==Trivia==
==Trivia==
*Luigi's appearance when chosen in the actual game differs from the official art shown on [[Smabura-Ken|the ''Super Smash Bros. Melee'' website]].
*A beta platform that doesn't exist in the actual [[Hyrule Temple]] stage can be seen in the short clip that plays when the player completes a single player mode with Luigi.
*The unlocking of Luigi when the seconds mark reaches a 2 references the fact that Luigi always plays second fiddle to Mario.
*Beating Luigi in the Adventure Mode only gives the player 20 bonus points, the smallest [[bonus point]] increase in the game. Luigi is also the only unlockable character who can appear in Adventure Mode prior to unlocking him.
*Beating Luigi in the Adventure Mode only gives the player 20 bonus points, the smallest [[bonus point]] increase in the game.
**Luigi is the only unlockable character to have his own cinematic, which plays when the player meets the criterion in Adventure Mode.
*Luigi is the only ''SSB64'' veteran not to appear in the ''Melee'' intro.
*Luigi is the only ''SSB64'' veteran and is overall one of the only ''Melee'' characters ({{SSBM|Roy}}, {{SSBM|Marth}}, {{SSBM|Falco}}, {{SSBM|Mr. Game & Watch}}, and {{SSBM|Dr. Mario}}) to not appear in the ''Melee'' intro.
*At the time of ''SSB64'', Luigi did not have an official voice, so he used a higher-pitched version of Mario's voice. This voice is retained for Melee, despite the fact that Luigi was given an official voice in ''Luigi's Mansion'' which came out before ''Melee''.
*The only unique sounds Luigi has in ''Melee'' are the Spring sound effect from ''Super Mario World'', used in one of his victory poses and the Misfire sound effect (the standard [[Green Missile]] sound effects are simply reused from [[Skull Bash]], and all other clips belonged to Mario).
*Luigi is the only character in ''Melee'' that has a [[taunt]] that can damage a player.
**Because of this, he is the only character where the Poser Power and Poser KO bonuses can be utilized.
*{{SSBM|Jigglypuff}} and Luigi are the only veterans to be unlockable in ''Melee''.
*Luigi is the only playable character in ''Melee'' to already make his playable debut on the GameCube before this game, as ''Luigi's Mansion'' was released before ''Melee''.
 
==External links==
*[https://www.nintendo.co.jp/n01/n64/software/nus_p_nalj/smash/flash/1127/index.html Luigi's page at Smabura-Ken]


*[[smashwiki:26TP/Luigi|Translation]]
{{SSBMCharacters}}
{{SSBMCharacters}}
{{EnemiesAdvSSBM}}
{{EnemiesAdvSSBM}}
{{Mario universe}}
{{Mario universe}}
[[Category:Characters (SSBM)]]
[[Category:Luigi (SSBM)| ]]
[[Category:Trophies (SSBM)]]
[[Category:Trophies (SSBM)]]
[[Category:Mario universe]]
[[es:Luigi (SSBM)]]

Latest revision as of 17:30, December 16, 2024

This article is about Luigi's appearance in Super Smash Bros. Melee. For the character in other contexts, see Luigi.
Luigi
in Super Smash Bros. Melee
Luigi SSBM.jpg
MarioSymbol(preBrawl).svg
Universe Mario
Other playable appearances in SSB
in Brawl
in SSB4
in Ultimate
Availability Unlockable
Tier B- (12) (North America)
E (13) (Europe)
Luigi (SSBM)

Luigi (ルイージ, Luigi) is an unlockable character in Super Smash Bros. Melee. Luigi is markedly similar to Mario, though his moveset and attributes (such as traction and aerial mobility) are different in many ways, making him a semi-clone.

As in Super Smash Bros., Charles Martinet portrayal of Mario from Super Mario 64 were re-purposed for Luigi's appearance in Melee, and are once again altered in pitch (like his Luigi Cyclone clip). Melee would be the final game to take this approach with Luigi's voice after having done so in Smash 64.

Luigi currently ranks 12th on the tier list, in the B- tier, placing him three places above his older brother Mario. This is a drastic improvement from his last place ranking in Super Smash Bros. Luigi is notable for his excellent air game, with the second highest jump in Melee, only behind Falco, and some of the best aerials in all of Melee; they are very fast, very powerful and have very low ending and landing lag. Luigi's wavedash is the longest in the game, taking him nearly half the distance of Final Destination at a high speed (only slightly slower than Captain Falcon's dash). Luigi also has a wide array of efficient combo and KO moves both in the air and on the ground, and much like his brother, he has fast frame data. Luigi's traction, which is the lowest in the game, works as a double edged sword; while it gives him an excellent wavedash, it also limits some of his approaches on the ground if he's not wavedashing, as well as his out of shield options (as he often gets pushed too far away for fast follow-ups when his shield is hit). His approach options are generally poor; he struggles to approach on the ground despite his excellent movement due to having one of the slowest dashing speeds, short range and lacking disjointed hitboxes, while his aerial approaches are hampered by his high short hop and slow falling speed (giving him one of the worst SHFFLs in the game) and his extremely poor aerial mobility (the worst in the game), while his floaty physics makes him vulnerable to juggles and vertical finishers. This problem is compounded with his difficulty in forcing opponents to approach (mainly as a result of his very poor projectile, as Fireball is too slow to stop approaches effectively). Additionally, his recovery is easy to edgeguard, being very linear and slow despite covering a large distance.

Nevertheless, Luigi’s good combo game and terrific wavedash allow him to be considered a decent character in competitive play, with solid matchups all-around with above average results.

How to unlock[edit]

Luigi must be defeated in battle before he can be unlocked. There are two ways the player can encounter Luigi:

  • One way is to clear the first level of Adventure Mode with a two as the second digit of the seconds portion of the clock. (XX:X2XX). After this is done, a cinematic plays when the player finishes the level, showing Luigi replacing Mario in the level to battle alongside Peach. The player must then defeat the two within one minute. After Adventure Mode is completed, the player will face off against Luigi. If the player fails to defeat Luigi, they can re-fight him by doing this same method again. If this method is used and Young Link's unique encounter requirement is met, then he must be unlocked before Luigi can be fought.
  • Another way is to play 800 VS. matches to completion. If the player fails to defeat Luigi, they can re-fight him by playing another VS. match to completion. If this method is used, fighters with lower VS. match quotas must be unlocked before Luigi can be fought.

When fought against, Luigi appears in Mushroom Kingdom II.

Attributes[edit]

While Luigi may initially appear to be a clone of his older brother Mario, similar to Dr. Mario, Luigi is a semi-clone of Mario who exchanges mobility for extra power, despite the inverse being true in the Mario games. Many significant differences are present between their ground, aerial, and special attacks, and Luigi possesses several unique moves. Luigi's attributes can also wildly vary from Mario's; Luigi's air speed, dashing speed, and traction are among the lowest in the game, whereas Mario's are about average. Luigi's jumps are also much higher than Mario's. Luigi has the longest wavedash in the game as a result of his low traction.

Luigi's primary advantage in this regard is his impressive KO potential in his grounded moveset. Luigi's wavedash functions as his primary method of approaching and movement on the ground, allowing him to traverse large distances very quickly and with a great deal of maneuverability. Luigi can combine his excellent wavedash with a variety of powerful smash attacks to produce some of the best wavesmashes in the game. His down smash is highly versatile, acting as combo starter due to its completely vertical knockback, as a juggling move, or as a KO move at high percentages. His forward smash has extremely high knockback scaling (135; the highest in the game), making it a powerful KO move (if a risky one due to its high ending lag). His up smash has intangibility on his head and is effective at KOing on the upper blast line and on floaty opponents, in addition to outprioritizing attacks from above Luigi. Luigi's up special can act as a powerful vertical finisher if sweetspotted, though it leaves Luigi in a helpless state and is very laggy; it is very punishable if the sweetspot is missed or the opponent avoids the attack (such as by shielding it). As a result, its use is often restricted to punishing very laggy moves (such as Sheik's Vanish) unless it can be edge cancelled.

Despite having the lowest air speed in the game, all of Luigi's aerial attacks are extremely solid. His forward aerial has quick startup and high knockback (at the Sakurai angle; 45° against aerial opponents), making it a useful attack for both KOing and edgeguarding. Down aerial boasts excellent utility with both its sweetspot and sourspot hitboxes; the sweetspot (near Luigi's hips), while difficult to land, is a meteor smash with solid power, making it great for edgeguarding offstage and starting combos onstage. The sourspot launches at the same angle as forward aerial with only slightly less power, making the attack a great choice for edgeguarding for any case. His back aerial has good range and works well for setting up edgeguards, while his up aerial is useful for hitting opponents above him and has low knockback which allows it to combo effectively into more aerials (such as a down or neutral aerial) on floaty opponents, and also works as a somewhat situational edgeguarding tool. Above all, however, is his neutral aerial, which is one of the most versatile attacks in the game. It is a standard sex kick that comes out on frame 3; however, it is the only sex kick that launches opponents vertically, along with disproportionately high hitstun. This makes it an incredible combo starter and even a situational KO option near the upper blast line, and thanks to its incredible speed, it is possibly the most notorious combo breaker in the game, as Luigi is able to use it to break opposing combos and start one of his own instantaneously.

Luigi's grab game is also good. Although his grab range is merely average, it is still much longer than Mario's and his aforementioned long wavedash allows Luigi to extend its reach. His throws have many varied uses. Both his down throw and up throw function as combo starters, leading into juggles with moves like up tilt, neutral air, and down smash; fast fallers such as Fox and Falco are generally more susceptible to up throw, while down throw is more suitable for floaty characters like Marth. Up throw is also a viable chain grab on fast-fallers at low percentages. His forward throw and back throws can set up a variety of edgeguards, with his back throw having sufficiently high knockback to function as a kill move at high percentages.

Luigi's strange variety of attributes, however, acts as a double-edged sword. Despite a highly effective wavedash, Luigi's movement without wavedashing is poor; while his moonwalk is decent, his dash is slow and his short initial dash animation gives him a very short dash-dance. Additionally, Luigi's projectile, Fireballs are poor; they have low hitstun, travel slowly, and have high ending lag, making them some of the more situational projectiles in the game. In addition, Luigi's air game, despite his powerful aerials, lacks much needed synergy with his stellar ground movement due to his low air speed. Furthermore, it, along with his low falling speed, leaves him highly vulnerable to juggles, as he cannot reach the ground effectively to escape them (this is one of the major factors in his poor matchup with Marth, who is capable of both starting and maintaining juggles on Luigi very effectively). A very high short hop and a low falling speed also gives Luigi among the worst SHFFLs in the game, even with his low-lag aerials. Finally, his low falling speed is what makes him vulnerable to being KOed off the top blast line (especially by characters with powerful vertical finishers, like Fox and Ganondorf), and being juggled in the air.

Outside of his approach, Luigi suffers from an exploitable recovery. Although his two primary recovery moves, Super Jump Punch and Green Missile have decent range (and Green Missile can be used repeatedly when recovering high), they are extremely linear in trajectory; Super Jump Punch does not move Luigi horizontally at all and Green Missile moves him horizontally and then causes him to fall significantly during the high ending lag. The slow and linear nature of these moves make his recovery easy to edgeguard on reaction, undermining his otherwise relatively long recovery. While Fireball can be used as a potentially potent edgeguard breaker, characters with reflectors can easily punish and gimp Luigi as a result, on top of its high ending lag. His Super Jump Punch also makes for one of the poorest meteor cancels in the game. He can also recover using the Luigi Cyclone, which gives vertical and horizontal distance, but strangely, the Cyclone needs to be "charged" before it allows Luigi to rise while using it (the move becomes "charged" when it is completed or is interrupted while Luigi is touching the ground). In comparison to Mario Tornado and Dr. Tornado, it also requires intense button mashing to rise; many Luigi players must hold the controller in a different way to normal (such as balancing it on their leg) to be able to press the B button fast enough to utilize the Cyclone as an effective recovery move.

Overall, Luigi is a character that tends to run hot and cold. He lacks many particularly safe approaches on the ground outside of wavedashing, and his aerial approaches are very poor, which generally leaves him vulnerable to characters with good zoning ability. Additionally, Luigi is over-reliant on wavedashing; a highly effective Luigi player must have perfect control over his wavedash distance. However, if Luigi can get within range to where he can land his blows, he can quickly and efficiently take the opponents' stock with effective use of his wavesmashes and versatile aerials. While he requires a large amount of technical skill and relies on situational attacks more than most characters, mastering Luigi's moveset rewards players with unpredictability and very strong offensive potential that can't be taken lightly by opponents.

Changes from Super Smash Bros.[edit]

Unlike in Smash 64 where Luigi was a clone of Mario, his moveset has received an overhaul from Melee, while the moves he shares with Mario now have different properties. Overall, this makes Luigi a semi-clone instead of a full clone.

Given that Luigi was considered to be the worst character in Smash 64 being ranked at the lowest position on the latest tier list at 12th, Luigi was significantly buffed from his transition from Smash 64 to Melee. Luigi greatly benefits from Melee's new mechanics most notably wavedashing. Wavedashing immensely improves Luigi's otherwise poor grounded mobility and it now gives his low traction an advantage rather than it only being a huge detriment. Luigi also benefits from the inclusion of up and down throws as it gives him a powerful chaingrabbing game. A wide variety of his moves have also seen improvements to their speed and some moves such as down smash and neutral aerial have gained combo potential.

However, Luigi has also seen some significant nerfs. Despite gaining some new KO options, many of Luigi's attacks have reduced KO potential including his up smash, back throw and Luigi Cyclone (which is also slower). His recovery is also worse. While his new side special Green Missile grants him an extra recovery option, it is very slow and predictable; thus it can easily be challenged most of the time. Luigi Cyclone grants less height and it now needs to be charged on the ground before it can be used in the air for recovery purposes, while Super Jump Punch covers much less distance particularly horizontally. In addition, Super Jump Punch is both slower and much weaker - especially the aerial version - making it a lot more difficult to combo into. Despite gaining new combo options, he has also lost one of his most valuable combo options in the form of his up aerial, which now has increased startup lag plus a worse auto-cancel window. It no longer sends opponents vertically, significantly hindering its combo and juggling potential (no longer leading into Super Jump Punch) - although it now has less ending lag and higher edgeguarding potential.

Overall, while Luigi's direct changes do not significantly buff him, the changes to the game's mechanics (mainly the inclusion of wavedashing) have immensely helped him pushing him into the mid tiers. It also helps that his damage output and auto-cancel ability are greater relative to the cast, making him shine in those areas more than he did in Smash 64.

Aesthetics[edit]

  • Change The graphical upgrades of the Nintendo GameCube give Luigi a more proportionate build. His appearance more closely resembles official N64-era renders of him from games such as Mario Kart 64 and Mario Party. His overalls are now a navy blue color (more like Mario's) instead of purple from the previous game and the seams are slightly more accentuated. His green clothes are a darker shade. He has a rounder head and a slightly darker skin tone.
  • Change Idle animation has somewhat altered via his arms waving around a bit.
  • Change Luigi has two new victory poses: the first one has Luigi planks twice when falling, and the second one has Luigi make the gun with his hand and pretend to shoot. They replace two of his victory poses from Smash 64.

Attributes[edit]

  • Buff Luigi walks significantly faster (0.8 (24) → 1.1).
  • Nerf Luigi's initial dash is much slower (1.667 (50) → 1.34) and covers less distance.
  • Buff Luigi runs very slightly faster (1.33 (40) → 1.34), no longer having the slowest dash in the game alongside Ness.
  • Buff Luigi's traction is slightly higher (0.0233 (0.7) → 0.025), though it still remains the lowest in the game by a large margin.
  • Nerf Luigi's jumpsquat is longer (3 frames → 4).
  • Nerf Luigi's already slow air speed has been decreased even more (0.867 (26, JPN) / 0.75 (22.5, NA/AUS/EUR) → 0.68).
  • Nerf Luigi's air acceleration is lower (0.0667 (2) → 0.04), although no longer being the slowest. It is slightly lower than Mario's.
  • Nerf Luigi jumps drastically lower (57.267 (1718) → 46.546), hindering his vertical recovery and ability to chase opponents above him. While still the 2nd highest out of 26 characters, he jumps slightly lower than Jigglypuff in Smash 64.
    • Buff Luigi's short hop is also extremely lower (31.6167 (1038.5) → 14.91). This improves his aerial approach potential while Luigi retains his ability to auto-cancel all of his aerials as well as being able to perform multiple aerials in a short hop.
  • Change Luigi falls faster (1.4 (42) → 1.6), improving his vertical endurance but making him easier to combo.
    • Nerf However, Luigi's fast falling speed is slower (2.25 (67.5) → 2). The difference between his falling speed and fast falling speed is much lower (increase: 60.7% → 25%), which makes it more predictable when landing and gives him fewer options in the air.
  • Buff The addition of air dodging has dramatically benefitted Luigi as he can now wavedash. Luigi possesses the longest wavedash in the game due to his extremely low traction making him benefit from wavedashing more than almost any other returning veteran. Wavedashing has greatly aided Luigi's mobility as it gives him an excellent approach option; offsetting his otherwise poor approach.

Ground attacks[edit]

  • Neutral attack:
    • Buff Neutral attack deals more damage (2% → 3% (hit 1)/4% → 5% (hit 3)).
    • Buff The first two hits knockback (8 (base), 50 (scaling) → 20 (set)/100) and angles (361° (hit 1)/70° (hit 2) → 83°/85° (both)) have been altered, allowing them to connect more reliably into the third hit.
    • Buff All three hits have less ending lag (FAF 18 → 15 (hit 1)/FAF 20 → 19 (hit 2), FAF 26 → 23 (hit 3)).
    • Nerf Luigi can no longer cancel the first hit into a grab.
    • Nerf The second hit has a shorter duration (frames 3-5 → 3-4).
    • Buff The third hit has a new animation with Luigi bumping forward with his rear end, slightly increasing its range.
    • Nerf The third hit has more startup lag with a shorter duration (frames 3-8 → 5-6).
  • Forward tilt:
    • Buff Forward tilt has less startup (frame 8 → 4) and ending lag (FAF 43 → 32).
    • Nerf Forward tilt has decreased base knockback (10 → 2).
    • Nerf Down angled forward tilt now deals very weak set knockback (10 (base), 0 (set), 100 (scaling) → 2/1/100), now making it extremely punishable on hit regardless of the opponent's percent.
  • Up tilt:
    • Buff Luigi has a new up tilt: an overhead "cat paw" swipe with his fist. It has less startup (frame 5 → 4) and ending lag (FAF 42 → 30) compared to the previous up tilt.
    • Buff Up tilt has more horizontal range.
    • Buff Up tilt now launches opponents towards Luigi (80° → 100°).
    • Change Up tilt has altered knockback (0 (base), 150 (scaling) → 30/(127/125/123).
      • Buff This makes the move much safer on hit at lower percents and improves its juggling potential when combined with its lower ending lag.
      • Nerf However, this also hinders its KO potential when combined with its lower damage.
    • Nerf Up tilt deals less damage (10% → 9%).
    • Nerf Up tilt has a shorter duration (frames 5-16 → 4-12).
  • Down tilt:
    • Buff Luigi has a new down tilt: a low swinging crouch back-kick with Luigi's following/right leg which deals more damage (7% → 9%) compared to the previous down tilt.
    • Nerf Down tilt has more startup lag and a shorter duration (frames 3-6 → 5-7).
    • Nerf Down tilt has more ending lag (FAF 18 → 35) significantly hindering its use as a spacing tool.
    • Nerf Down tilt has less range.
    • Nerf Down tilt deals less knockback (0 (base), 100 (scaling) → 10/80).
    • Nerf Down tilt now launches opponents vertically (361° → 80°) further hindering its spacing potential while not granting it combo potential due to its low knockback and high ending lag.
  • Dash attack:
    • Buff Dash attack has less ending lag (FAF 61 → 59).
    • Change Dash attack's hits have altered knockback (0 (base), 40 (set), 100 (scaling) → 2/0/100).
      • Buff This makes it connect more reliably at lower percents.
      • Nerf However, this makes it connect less reliably at higher percents.
    • Nerf Dash attack has more startup lag (frame 3 → 4).
    • Nerf Dash attack's hits have shorter durations (4 frames (hits 1-2)/7 frames (hits 3-6) → 1 frame (all)).
    • Nerf Dash attack deals slightly less damage due to changes to stale move negation (12% → 11.1%).
  • Forward smash:
    • Buff Luigi has a new forward smash: a knifehand. It has less startup lag (frame 16 → 12) compared to the previous forward smash.
      • Nerf However, its total duration remains unchanged; increasing its ending lag.
    • Buff Forward smash deals much more knockback (30 (base), 100 (scaling) → 20/135), making it much stronger despite its lower damage and no longer being the weakest in the game.
    • Buff Forward smash now deals extra shield damage (0 → 5).
    • Nerf Forward smash has a shorter duration (frames 16-20 → 12-14).
    • Nerf Forward smash deals less damage (16%/15%/14% → 14%/13%/12%).
    • Nerf Forward smash's angles have been altered (361° (all) → 65° (up)/55° (non angled)/45° (down)) which along with its lower damage, hinders the effectiveness of the non angled and up angled versions; especially against fast fallers.
  • Up smash:
    • Buff Up smash has a new animation; Luigi now takes a massive step forward as he leans for the headbutt. This gives it a bit more horizontal range and much less ending lag (FAF 60 → 40).
    • Nerf Up smash has more startup lag with a shorter duration (frames 7-15 → 9-11). Luigi also no longer jumps, decreasing it's vertical range.
    • Nerf Up smash has less intangibility (frames 7-10 → 9-11).
    • Nerf Up smash deals less damage (19% → 17%) and knockback (26 (base), 120 (scaling) → 35/98) in addition to sending opponents at a less vertical angle (85° → 110°). This significantly hinders its KO potential; no longer being the strongest in the game alongside Mario's version of up smash.
  • Down smash:
    • Buff Down smash has less startup lag (frame 8 → 5) and a shorter total duration (FAF 45 → 38).
    • Change Down smash now launches opponents vertically (361° → 90°), significantly improving its combo potential, but hindering its edgeguarding and KO potential.
    • Nerf Down smash has a shorter duration (frames 8-29 → 5-6/14-15) with the front hit and back hit now having separate hitboxes rather than one long lasting hitbox.
      • Nerf This also increases the move's cooldown as its total duration was not fully compensated.
    • Nerf Down smash deals less knockback (20 (base), 100 (scaling) → 40/80).

Aerial attacks[edit]

  • Buff All aerials except up aerial auto-cancel earlier (frame 37 → 36 (neutral), frame 27 → 20 (forward), frame 20 → 19 (back), frame 33 → 24 (down)).
    • Nerf However, Luigi's aerials no longer auto-cancel the entire time their hitboxes are not active.
  • Neutral aerial:
    • Buff Neutral aerial's clean hit deals more damage (14% → 15%) and has higher base knockback (15 → 20).
    • Change Neutral aerial now launches opponents vertically (361° → 90°).
      • Buff This significantly improves its combo potential being an excellent combo starter.
      • Nerf However, this also removes its edgeguarding potential.
    • Buff Neutral aerial has a shorter total duration (FAF 50 → 46).
      • Nerf However, it can also no longer be performed twice in a short hop due to Luigi's lower short hop.
    • Nerf Neutral aerial has a shorter duration (frames 3-10 (clean)/11-36 (late) → 3-6/7-31), slightly increasing its ending lag.
    • Nerf Neutral aerial has slightly increased landing lag (14 frames → 15).
    • Nerf Late neutral aerial deals less damage (11% → 8%) without full compensation on its base knockback (0 → 20).
      • Buff However, this improves its combo potential.
  • Forward aerial:
    • Buff Luigi has a new forward aerial: A karate chop. It has less startup (frame 11 → 7) and ending lag (FAF 40 → 33).
    • Buff Forward aerial has increased base knockback (10 → 43), improving its spacing and edgeguarding potential.
      • Nerf However, this hinders its combo potential.
    • Buff Forward aerial has less landing lag (30 frames → 25).
    • Nerf Forward aerial deals less damage compared to its previous clean hit (16% → 12%), making it weaker overall despite its increased base knockback.
    • Nerf Forward aerial has a shorter duration due to it no longer possessing a late hit (frames 11-26 → 7-10).
    • Nerf Forward aerial has less range.
  • Back aerial:
    • Buff Back aerial has less startup lag with a longer duration (frames 10-13 (clean)/14-19 (late) → 6-17).
    • Change Back aerial has a new animation, where Luigi kicks more sideways with his right side facing up, instead of kicking backward face-down. Luigi also recovers differently without curling up into a flip.
      • Buff This new animation is shorter significantly reducing the move's ending lag (FAF 40 → 29).
      • Nerf However, this also gives the move less range.
    • Nerf Back aerial deals less damage compared to its previous clean hit (16% → 11%) with only a slight increases to its base knockback (10 → 12), significantly hindering its KO potential.
      • Buff However, this improves the move's combo potential.
      • Buff Additionally since the move no longer has a weaker late hit, it deals more damage (10% → 11%) and has higher base knockback (0 → 12) compared to the previous late hit.
  • Up aerial:
    • Buff Up aerial has less ending lag (FAF 40 → 30).
    • Buff Up aerial deals more damage (12% (clean)/9% (late) → 13%).
    • Change Up aerial launches opponents horizontally rather than vertically (80°/70° → 55°).
      • Buff This grants the move edgeguarding potential.
      • Nerf However, this significantly hinders its combo and juggling potential removing one of Luigi's most powerful combo tools.
    • Buff Up aerial has much less landing lag (40 frames → 15).
    • Nerf Up aerial has more startup lag with a shorter duration due to no longer having a late hit (frames 2-4 (clean)/5-11 (late) → 5-7).
    • Nerf Up aerial auto-cancels later (frame 12 → 16), removing Luigi's ability to perform two up aerials in a short hop and still auto-cancel the up aerial.
    • Nerf Up aerial has decreased knockback scaling (120 → 100) hindering its KO potential despite its higher damage.
  • Down aerial:
    • Change Luigi's down aerial hits only once via a single drill spinning stomp, instead of being a multi-hitting drill.
    • Change Down aerial's angles have been altered (-70° → 361°/270°).
    • Buff Down aerial deals much more damage (3% → 16%) and knockback (30 (set), 100 (scaling) → 20 (base), 100 (scaling)) compared to the previous individual kicks; making it a powerful KO move.
    • Buff Down aerial has a shorter total duration (FAF 39 → 29).
    • Buff Down aerial has less landing lag (36 frames → 18).
    • Nerf Due to down aerial only consisting of one hit instead of eight:
      • Nerf Its maximum damage potential is lower (24% → 16%).
      • Nerf It has a much shorter duration (frames 10-11,13-14,16-17,19-20,22-23,25-26,28-29,31-32 → 10-14), increasing its ending lag.
      • Nerf It can no longer be used as an effective shield pressuring tool.
      • Nerf It is no longer a powerful and reliable combo tool.
      • Buff However, the move is now more reliable; no longer being escapable with SDI.
    • Nerf The introduction of meteor canceling hinders the new sweetspot's reliability.

Throws/other attacks[edit]

  • Buff Luigi has been given an up throw, a down throw, and a pummel, along with the rest of the Super Smash Bros. veterans, providing him more options out of a grab. This significantly improves his attack options. His new up and down throw's are capable of chain grabbing opponents.
  • Grabs:
    • Nerf Luigi's Grabs have more startup lag (frame 6 → 7 (standing), 11 (dash)) and ending lag (FAF 16 → 31 (standing), 41 (dash)).
  • Forward throw:
    • Nerf Forward throw deals much less damage (16% → 8%) and knockback (70 (base), 70 (scaling) → 60/65).
  • Back throw:
    • Nerf Back throw deals less damage (12% → 10%) and has decreased knockback scaling (70 → 65).
    • Nerf Back throw's collateral hit deals less damage (10% → 8%).
  • Taunt:
    • Buff Taunt has less startup (frame 48 → 46) and ending lag (FAF 79 → 71).
      • Nerf However, it can no longer be interrupted with shield or grab increasing the amount of time Luigi cannot shield or grab after performing the taunt (60 frames → 70).
    • Buff Taunt has slightly more range; now being able to hit the entire cast on the ground.
    • Buff Taunt now deals extra shield damage (0 → 1).
    • Buff Taunt has increased set knockback (60 → 100) and is now a meteor smash (361° → 280°), increasing its utility.
    • Nerf Taunt has a shorter duration (frames 48-50 → 46).

Special moves[edit]

  • Fireball:
    • Buff Fireball travels faster.
    • Nerf Fireball has a smaller hitbox.
    • Nerf Fireball has slightly increased startup (frame 16 → 17) and ending lag (FAF 46 → 47).
    • Nerf Fireball has a shorter duration (frames 16-94 → 17-66).
    • Nerf Fireball has decreased base knockback (10 → 5).
  • Green Missile:
    • Change Luigi has a side special: Green Missile. Luigi travels sideways like a rocket which he can charge to increase its strength/distance. It also has a 1/8 chance to misfire which will set Luigi on fire and immediately make him travel a great distance with strong damage/knockback regardless of charge. It gives him an additional recovery option. It also slightly aids to his KO ability, being another KO option with a misfire, albeit not very reliable and a misfire travels so far that it can lead into a self destruct.
  • Super Jump Punch:
    • Buff Super Jump Punch has increased intangibility (frame 2 → 5-8).
      • Nerf However, its intangibility has increased startup lag (frame 2 → 5).
    • Change The late hit has an altered angle (361° → 80°) as well as altered knockback (10 (set), 100 (scaling) → 1 (base)/1).
    • Change The aerial sweetspot no longer makes the ping sound effect when it connects.
    • Nerf Super Jump Punch has more startup lag with a shorter duration (frames 2-24 → 5-23).
    • Nerf Super Jump Punch has a new animation where Luigi jumps straight up. This new animation covers less vertical distance and covers no horizontal distance whatsoever meaning that Luigi has to enter free fall before he can move horizontally.
    • Nerf Super Jump Punch can no longer be angled.
    • Nerf Super Jump Punch has more landing lag (25 frames → 40).
    • Nerf The changes to up aerial and the introduction of DI have made Super Jump Punch much harder to combo into.
    • Nerf The sweetspot no longer has a hitbox which covers Luigi's body.
    • Nerf The grounded sweetspot deals less knockback (90 (base), 80 (scaling) → 70/73).
    • Nerf The aerial sweetspot deals less damage (25% → 20%) and knockback (80 (base), 80 (scaling) → 58/72), significantly hindering its KO potential despite its altered angle (80° → 90°).
  • Luigi Cyclone:
    • Buff Luigi Cyclone has less ending lag (FAF 87 → 80).
    • Buff Grounded Luigi Cyclone now allows Luigi to move along the ground to cover a great distance very quickly, improving its utility.
    • Buff The first hit's hitboxes no longer disappear if Luigi lands while they are active.
    • Buff The first hit now always launches opponents straight up (65°/90° → 90°).
    • Change The first hit deals much less damage (15% → 8% (ground)/9% (air)) and knockback (65 (base), 90 (scaling) → 50/80).
      • Buff This improves its ability to lead into the second hit.
      • Nerf However, this significantly hinders its KO potential.
    • Buff The second hit now launches opponents straight up (70° → 90°) which along with the move's lower ending lag, improves its combo potential.
    • Nerf Luigi Cyclone has more startup lag with a shorter duration (frames 1-42 (hit 1)/43-44 (ground hit 2)/43-46 (air hit 2) → 6-29/43).
    • Nerf Luigi Cyclone now requires significantly faster button inputs to make Luigi rise.
    • Nerf Luigi can no longer mash to rise when using the grounded version.
    • Nerf Luigi Cyclone now needs to be "charged" by being used on the ground first before it can be used in midair to rise with mashing.
    • Nerf The second hit deals much less damage (18% → 12%) and knockback (80 (base), 100 (scaling) → 50/80), drastically hindering its KO potential.
      • Buff However, this improves its combo potential.
      • Nerf As a result of all these changes, the move is no longer a reliable KO move and combo finisher.

Version history[edit]

PAL

Moveset[edit]

For a gallery of Luigi's hitboxes, see here.

Luigi's aerial attacks
  Name Damage Description
Neutral attack Left Jab (左パンチ, Left Punch) / Right Jab (右パンチ, Right Punch) / Plumber's Rump (どんけつ, Butt) 3% A three-hit attack consisting of two jabs followed by a hip bump. Useful as a low-damage opener. Because the third strike of the combo knocks the opponent away with a medium amount of lag, many players elect to omit the third strike of the combo. Luigi can repeat the first strike of the neutral attack by jab cancelling.
2%
5%
Forward tilt Plumber Kick (ミドルキック, Middle Kick) 10% Does a back spinning kick with his right leg. Has medium knockback. It is often used to poke or simply to push the opponent away, giving Luigi extra time to maneuver or set up edgeguards. It can be angled, with the downwards angled version having very low hitstun, often leaving Luigi vulnerable on hit or block.
Up tilt Cat Punch (ねこパンチ) 9% Swipes over his head with his fist. Its upward trajectory makes this move well-suited for juggling, especially against fast-fallers.
Down tilt Heel Kick (かかとげり) 9% Crouches, turns around, and kicks his heel out behind him. It pops the opponent up with low-knockback and is laggy, making it of limited usefulness. Since this attack hugs the ground, it can be used to attack a sweet spotting enemy.
Dash attack Fists of Fear (ぽこぽこパンチ, Pow-Pow Punch) 2% (hits 1-6) Dashes forward and attacks his opponent with a flurry of punches. It hits six times and does moderate damage, but it's not very useful due to being extremely unsafe on hit (it has 22 frames on ending lag and very low hitstun), allowing any character to grab him out of it. All hits deal ≈11.1% when used fresh.
Forward smash ↗ Trowel Stab (地獄突き, Hell Thrust) 14% Bends his elbow before thrusting his arm out, performing a spearhand thrust. Launches opponents diagonally upwards. The highest knockback scaling in the game at 135, being able to KO under 130%. Additionally, charging this move will cease Luigi momentum mid-wavedash, which will make him stop suddenly. This move can be angled up or down.
→ 13%
↘ 12%
Up smash Lead Headbutt (スマッシュヘッドバット, Smash Headbutt) 17% Performs an upwards headbutt. Identical to Mario's up smash but has an up-and-behind trajectory, ideal for KOs off the upper blast line, or KOs on floaty opponents. It can also set up aerial combos in a similar manner to his up tilt. Luigi's head is intangible while the hitboxes are active.
Down smash Breakdance Sweep (ダブルキック, Double Kick) 17% Kicks out twice in a breakdancing motion, first in front and then behind. The combination of the attack's upward trajectory and its knockback makes it an excellent combo starter.
Neutral aerial Plumber's Boot (ルイージキック, Luigi Kick) 15% (clean), 8% (late) A sex kick that sends the opponent straight upwards. For this reason, Luigi's sex kick is a popular tool for juggling and comboing opponents, being able to KO at high percentages. Its hitbox and low startup time (hits on frame 3) means that it is useful for interrupting combo attempts by the opponent. One of the strongest sex kicks in the game (being the 3rd most powerful neutral aerial overall and the most powerful sex kick in Melee).
Forward aerial Chop Chop (脳天チョップ, Brain Chop) 12% Does a quick karate chop forward. High horizontal knockback and is one of Luigi's primary KO'ing aerial attacks. It also has high knockback at low damage. Launches at the Sakurai angle.
Back aerial Drop Kick (後方ドロップキック, Back Drop Kick) 11% Performs a reverse dropkick. Good for damage racking, edgeguarding, and zoning (especially on floaty opponents such as Jigglypuff). It also has high base knockback, similar to Dr. Mario's back aerial, adding to it's effectiveness.
Up aerial Bicycle Kick (エアスラッシュ, Air Slash) 13% Does a upwards flipkick, hitting above him. Doesn't offer the same juggling properties from the ground as Mario's; however, it is often used against opponents above Luigi on platforms, or as a vertical launcher to set up an aerial finisher like his forward aerial. It is also useful as an edgeguard.
Down aerial Screwdriver Kick (ドリルキック, Drill Kick) 16% Does a quick downwards spin kick. A valuable edgeguarding move. Can meteor smash if he hits the opponent with his hip (in a similar fashion to Young Link's down aerial meteor smash.) The lower hitbox has strong knockback at the Sakurai angle in a similar fashion to his forward aerial.
Grab Grab (つかみ) —  
Pummel Clutch Headbutt (つかみヘッドバット, Grab Headbutt) 3% Headbutts opponent. Relatively slow.
Forward throw Heave-Ho (ヒコーキ投げ, Airplane Throw) 8% Spins around once and throws his opponent forward. This throw is relatively weak but can be used near the ledge to set up edgeguards.
Back throw Airplane Swing (ジャイアントスイング, Giant Swing) 10% (throw), 8% (collateral) Spins around three times and throws his opponent backwards. Luigi's strongest throw, often being used for throwing enemies offstage and getting KOs.
Up throw Luigi Launch (スルーアップ, Throw Up) 7% Throws his opponent upward. Very useful combo starter, leading into moves such as an up tilt, a neutral aerial, and an up smash. It can also chain grab fast-fallers.
Down throw Down the Drain (スルーダウン, Throw Down) 7% Throws the opponent into the ground, causing them to bounce at a horizontal angle. Allows for combos or tech chase follow ups.
Forward roll
Back roll
Spot dodge
Air dodge 		— —
Techs — —
Floor attack (front)
Floor getups (front) 		  6% Gets up and punches behind him, then in front.
Floor attack (back)
Floor getups (back) 		  6% Swirls around in a similar fashion to his down smash.
Edge attack (fast)
Edge getups (fast) 		  6% (body), 8% (legs) Does a somersault and then kicks upward onto the stage.
Edge attack (slow)
Edge getups (slow) 		  10% Slowly gets up and kicks forward with one leg.
Neutral special Fireball 6% Shoots a fireball as a projectile. The fireball isn't affected by gravity.
Side special Green Missile 5-26% (normal), 25% (misfire) A chargeable move that launches Luigi sideways like a rocket. There is a lot of ending lag on this move, which makes it very punishable. There is a 1-in-8 chance that Luigi will misfire, sending him much farther, much faster, and with much more knockback. Performing this move like a smash attack causes the move to finish charging sooner.
Up special Super Jump Punch 25% (ground clean), 20% (air clean), 1% (late) Does a jumping uppercut upwards with no horizontal distance. There is a 1-frame sweetspot right at the beginning of the move, which is very powerful. Otherwise, it deals pitiful damage and no knockback.
Down special Luigi Cyclone 8% (ground hit 1), 9% (air hit 1), 12% (hit 2) A spinning attack that can be moved left and right. By rapidly tapping the B button, it can be used to gain a little vertical distance.
Taunt Taunt (挑発) 1% A bashful kick to the ground. The only damaging taunt in the game. Meteor smashes with set knockback, sending opponents upwards on the ground, and downwards if they are hanging on the ledge. It has very limited practical applications, being very slow and weak, as well as possible to meteor cancel due to its angle.

Stats[edit]

NTSC

Stats Weight Dash speed Walk speed Traction Air friction Air speed Air acceleration Gravity Falling speed Jumpsquat Jump height Double jump height Empty landing Lag
Value 100 1.34 – Initial dash
1.34 – Run 		1.1 0.0025 0.01 0.68 0.015 – Base
0.025 – Additional 		0.069 1.6 – Base
2 – Fast-fall 		4 46.546 - Base
14.91 - Short hop 		35.568 4

PAL

Stats Weight Dash speed Walk speed Traction Air friction Air speed Air acceleration Gravity Falling speed Jumpsquat Jump height Double jump height Empty landing Lag
Value 100 1.34 – Initial dash
1.34 – Run 		1.1 0.0025 0.01 0.68 0.015 – Base
0.025 – Additional 		0.069 1.6 – Base
2 – Fast-fall 		4 46.546 - Base
14.91 - Short hop 		35.568 4

Announcer call[edit]

Taunt[edit]

  • Bashfully kicks the ground, dealing 1% damage to anyone who hits his foot. It is the only taunt in Melee that can damage the opponent. The taunt normally sends the enemy upwards with set knockback, but against opponents hanging on the ledge, it will meteor smash. Since it is slow and very weak, Luigi's taunt is rarely used in competitive play.
Luigi-Taunt-SSBM.gif

Idle pose[edit]

  • Rubs the back of his head sheepishly. The controller vibrates slightly during this animation.
Luigi Idle Pose Melee.gif

Crowd cheer[edit]

Cheer (International) Cheer (Japanese)
Cheer
Description Lu - i - gi! Lui - gi!

Victory poses[edit]

An orchestrated cover of the iconic "Level Completed" music from Super Mario Bros.
  • Planks twice. The spring sound from Super Mario World can be heard after each plank.
  • Turns around and makes gun motions with his fingers, saying "Let's-a go"!
  • Childishly swings his arms at the air and gasps twice with exhaustion. This is his animation when he is chosen in Super Smash Bros.
Luigi-Victory1-SSBM.gif Luigi-Victory2-SSBM.gif Luigi-Victory3-SSBM.gif

In competitive play[edit]

Most historically significant players[edit]

See also: Category:Luigi players (SSBM)

Tier placement and history[edit]

Luigi was once ranked quite high on the tier list, hovering around positions 6 to 9 for about the first year of Melee's metagame. He then saw a large drop to 12th, which can be attributed to his low traction leading to slippery movement, predictable recovery, and short reach, which many players of top tier characters began adapting to and countering in their own metagames, resulting in worse matchups for Luigi; he was also seen as outclassed by both Dr. Mario and Mario, who either had more power or a less risky combo game, respectively. He then fell to the top of low tier for many years to come. However, with excellent performances by dedicated professionals such as Eddy Mexico and Abate showing Luigi's extremely quick mobility and approach with the wavedash and waveland, as well as his great aerial game and KO power despite his poor reach, opinions of Luigi began to change. In recent tournaments such as EVO 2013 and The Big House 5, Luigi players have placed relatively high with lacking similar performances by Mario, resulting in Luigi pulling ahead back into the middle tier, three spots above Mario at 12th place. Today, Luigi is still a solid mid tier character who has a relatively small, but strong, player base, and he makes decent impressions in large tournaments.

In 1-P Mode[edit]

Classic Mode[edit]

In Classic Mode, Luigi can appear as an ordinary opponent, an ally in team and giant battles, alongside Dr. Mario, Link, or Yoshi in a team, a giant opponent, the sole member of a multi-character battle, or a metal character. In all appearances, he either appears on Mushroom Kingdom or Mushroom Kingdom II with the exception of the metal battle and when on a team with Yoshi, where he will fight the player on Battlefield or Yoshi's Story, respectively.

Adventure Mode[edit]

Luigi can appear in the Adventure Mode if the player finishes the first stage, Mushroom Kingdom, with the number two anywhere in the seconds meter (ex. 3:42:35) , a cutscene will occur which will show Luigi taking Mario's place in the upcoming battle (unusually, it does not count if there is a two in the tens column, but not the ones column: ex. 3.25:35 will not count). The player will then have to battle a team of Luigi and Peach. Of note is that Luigi can appear in the Adventure Mode without being unlocked; encountering him in the Adventure Mode prior to unlocking him is actually one of two criteria the player can meet to unlock him. Humorously, defeating Luigi yields the Luigi KO bonus, which is the one that awards least points to the player: a measly 20 points.

If the player has unlocked Luigi, Metal Luigi will appear in Stage 11-2: Battlefield stage alongside Metal Mario.

All-Star Mode[edit]

Luigi and his allies are fought on Mushroom Kingdom.

Event Matches[edit]

Luigi is featured in the following event matches:

Congratulations Screens[edit]

  • Classic Mode

    Classic Mode

  • Adventure Mode

    Adventure Mode

  • All-Star Mode

    All-Star Mode

Trophies[edit]

In addition to the normal trophy about Luigi as a character unlocked by completing Classic Mode as Luigi on any difficulty, there are two trophies about him as a fighter, unlocked by completing Adventure Mode and All-Star Mode respectively as Luigi on any difficulty. Each of the trophies can also be unlocked by playing 100, 200, and 300 versus matches respectively as Luigi:

Classic Mode trophy
Luigi
Although Mario's younger brother has always played second fiddle, Luigi finally garnered the spotlight with his very own game, Luigi's Mansion. Things are looking up for the eternal understudy; he's even picked up his own rival in Waluigi. The day he's referred to as the "lean, mean, green machine" may not be too far off.
Mario Bros. (Arcade 1983)
Adventure Mode SMASH trophy
Luigi SMASH
Luigi has worse traction than his brother, but he's a more powerful jumper. His Fireballs aren't affected by gravity, so they fly straight horizontally. The Green Missile is similar to Pikachu's Skull Bash, but there's a 12.5% chance of a spontaneous misfire. Luigi's taunting pose inflicts minor damage.
B: Fireball
Smash B: Green Missile
All-Star Mode SMASH trophy
Luigi SMASH
Smack someone with Luigi's Super Jump Punch, and if the timing is just right, it will become a Fire Jump Punch of incredible strength. However, Luigi can only jump straight up when delivering this blow, and if his aim is a bit off, he'll only do a single point of damage. The Luigi Cyclone sucks foes in and twirls them about.
Up & B: Super Jump Punch
Down & B: Luigi Cyclone

Alternate costumes[edit]

Luigi Palette (SSBM).png
Luigi (SSBM) Luigi (SSBM) Luigi (SSBM) Luigi (SSBM)

Gallery[edit]

Trivia[edit]

  • A beta platform that doesn't exist in the actual Hyrule Temple stage can be seen in the short clip that plays when the player completes a single player mode with Luigi.
  • Beating Luigi in the Adventure Mode only gives the player 20 bonus points, the smallest bonus point increase in the game. Luigi is also the only unlockable character who can appear in Adventure Mode prior to unlocking him.
    • Luigi is the only unlockable character to have his own cinematic, which plays when the player meets the criterion in Adventure Mode.
  • Luigi is the only SSB64 veteran and is overall one of the only Melee characters (Roy, Marth, Falco, Mr. Game & Watch, and Dr. Mario) to not appear in the Melee intro.
  • The only unique sounds Luigi has in Melee are the Spring sound effect from Super Mario World, used in one of his victory poses and the Misfire sound effect (the standard Green Missile sound effects are simply reused from Skull Bash, and all other clips belonged to Mario).
  • Luigi is the only character in Melee that has a taunt that can damage a player.
    • Because of this, he is the only character where the Poser Power and Poser KO bonuses can be utilized.
  • Jigglypuff and Luigi are the only veterans to be unlockable in Melee.
  • Luigi is the only playable character in Melee to already make his playable debut on the GameCube before this game, as Luigi's Mansion was released before Melee.

External links[edit]

v • d • e
Fighters in Super Smash Bros. Melee
Veterans Captain Falcon · Donkey Kong · Fox · Jigglypuff · Kirby · Link · Luigi · Mario · Ness · Pikachu · Samus · Yoshi
Newcomers Bowser · Dr. Mario · Falco · Ganondorf · Ice Climbers · Marth · Mewtwo · Mr. Game & Watch · Peach · Pichu · Roy · Young Link · Zelda (Sheik)
v • d • e
Enemies in Adventure Mode (SSBM)
Mushroom Kingdom Goomba · Koopa Paratroopa · Koopa Troopa · Yoshi Team · Mario · Peach · Luigi
Kongo Jungle Tiny Donkey Kongs
Jungle Japes Giant DK
Underground Maze Octorok · ReDead · Like Like · Links · Zelda/Sheik
Brinstar Samus
Green Greens Kirby · Kirby Team · Giant Kirby
Corneria Fox · Falco
Pokémon Stadium Pikachu · Jigglypuff · Pichu
F-Zero Grand Prix Captain Falcon
Onett Ness
Icicle Mountain Topi · Polar Bear · Ice Climbers
Battlefield Fighting Wire Frames · Metal Mario · Metal Luigi
Final Destination Giant Bowser · Giga Bowser
v • d • e
Mario (universe) Mario universe
Fighters Mario (SSB · SSBM · SSBB · SSB4 · SSBU) · Luigi (SSB · SSBM · SSBB · SSB4 · SSBU) · Peach (SSBM · SSBB · SSB4 · SSBU) · Bowser (SSBM · SSBB · SSB4 · SSBU) · Dr. Mario (SSBM · SSB4 · SSBU) · Rosalina & Luma (SSB4 · SSBU) · Bowser Jr. (SSB4 · SSBU) (Koopalings) · Daisy (SSBU) · Piranha Plant (SSBU)
Assist Trophies Hammer Bro · Waluigi · Lakitu & Spinies · Chain Chomp · Thwomp · Flies & Hand
Bosses Metal Mario and Luigi · Petey Piranha
Stages Peach's Castle · Mushroom Kingdom (SSB) · Princess Peach's Castle · Rainbow Cruise · Mushroom Kingdom (SSBM) · Mushroom Kingdom II · Delfino Plaza · Mushroomy Kingdom · Figure-8 Circuit · Luigi's Mansion · Mario Bros. · 3D Land · Golden Plains · Rainbow Road · Paper Mario · Mushroom Kingdom U · Mario Galaxy · Mario Circuit · Super Mario Maker · New Donk City Hall
Mushroom Kingdom (Adventure Mode)
Items Bob-omb · Fire Flower · Green Shell · Red Shell · Super Star · Super Mushroom · Poison Mushroom · Freezie · Metal Box · Golden Hammer · Lightning Bolt  · Hothead · Banana Peel · Boomerang · Fire Bar · POW Block · Bullet Bill · Spiny Shell · Super Leaf · Grass · Super Launch Star
Enemies Banzai Bill · Bill Blaster · Bullet Bill · Chain Chomp · Flame Chomp · Goomba · Giant Goomba · Hammer Bro · Koopa Paratroopa · Koopa Troopa · Lakitu & Spinies · Magikoopa · Shy Guy · Spike Top
Other Birdo · Boo · Cappy · F.L.U.D.D. · Geno · Ghosts · Kamek · Koopa Clown Car · Molten Fortress · Nabbit · Pauline · Pidgit · Shellcreeper · Shy Guy · Sidestepper · Toad · Warp Pipe
Trophies, Stickers and Spirits Trophies (SSBM · SSBB · SSB4) · Stickers · Spirits
Music Brawl (Mario Kart) · SSB4 · Ultimate (Mario Kart)
Masterpieces Super Mario Bros. · Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels · Super Mario Bros. 2 · Dr. Mario · Super Mario World · Super Mario Kart
Related universes Donkey Kong · Yoshi · Wario · Wrecking Crew
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